Wal-Mart highlights local produce sourcing efforts
BENTONVILLE, Ark. Wal-Mart said that it is committed to sourcing more produce from local farmers adding that over the past two years its partnerships with local farmers have grown by 50%.
"Offering local produce has been a Wal-Mart priority for years, and we're taking it to a new level with a pledge to grow our partnerships with local farmers. We're committed to purchasing locally grown produce whenever possible," said Pam Kohn, Wal-Mart's senior vp and general merchandise manager for grocery. "Increasing the amount of local produce in our grocery aisles -- and adding clear locally grown signage -- reflects our dedication to offer the freshest products possible at great prices."
Wal-Mart estimates that it purchases more than 70% of its produce from U.S.-based suppliers, making the company the biggest customer of American agriculture. This year, Wal-Mart expects to source about $400 million in locally grown produce from farmers across the United States.
Wal-Mart's new local produce push includes new in-store promotion with signs featuring official state-grown marks, indicating approval by their state's agriculture department.
The company is also dedicating space on its Web site to locally grown produce, including farmer profiles and recipes. For more information, visit http://www.walmart.com/locallygrown.