To eat is human. To eat local is divine.

Unless one is interested in pinching pennies. A drawback to “locavorism” (a made-up word meaning eating locally produced food) is, often, this support means paying a premium.

It’s a quandary that pits principles against pocketbook.

Enter the iconic Maine lobster, the price of which is plummeting due to difficult economic conditions and higher fuel prices. The wholesale lobster price is hovering around $4 per-pound, down from $5.65 last summer, according to the Lobster Institute in Orono.

Now is when lobster landings start to increase; a swelling of supply might depress prices even further. While this isn’t a great prospect for the lobster industry, for the lobster-eating public, this fortunate development should send bib and melted butter stocks soaring.

This also presents the rare nexus of two positive practices: supporting local businesses and eating local foods. Maine consumers can do both by dining on lobsters. This almost always satisfies the stomach.

Now it can satisfy the conscience and the bank account, too.