Empty plastic bottles curve around the machine that fills each with waffle syrup, on go the Griffin’s labels, the lids and the bottles are packed — a dozen at a time — into boxes that are shipped to any number of stores in a five-state region.

Many end up at Muskogee area stores, along with Griffin jams, jellies and mustards, plus Angel Soft toilet paper, Mardi Gras napkins, Dal-Tile ceramic work, Stone Bluff Wine and other products made in the Muskogee area.

Buying locally-made products clearly helps the local economy, said Marie Seabolt, director of marketing and research for Muskogee Development Corp.

But can buying locally-made products help your budget as well? It depends on the item, area manufacturers say.

Griffin Foods President John W. Griffin said Griffin products usually are priced in the middle of store brands and name brands.

“Our items are of such high quality, we try to price between the private labels and national brands,” he said.

For example, the waffle syrup is thicker than store brands.

“The private label product is going to run off the pancake,” he said. “Ours is thicker and not as wasteful.”

Similarly, the company’s yellow mustard is priced between the industry leader and private brands, which tend to be runny, he said. Also, Griffin’s uses whole berries in its preserves, he said.

Griffin said his company serves Oklahoma and surrounding states such as Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri, though some products go as far as California.

“That’s an advantage for us, especially with transportation costs,” he said.

Other prices, such as raw materials, corn syrup and plastic have gone up, he said.

“One thing we remember is our purpose: Sharing the great things of life,” he said. “One factor we try to get away from is that we don’t try to compete with the private labels. We are trying to get to niche products.”