The local food movement might have received a huge boost today, as
Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) announced plans to sell more locally grown fruits
and vegetables in an effort to keep produce prices down, by reducing
the distance the products must be shipped.
The giant retailer did not give specifics as to how produce would be
purchased, the size of farms that would be involved or what distances
would be considered "local."
However, Wal-Mart said currently, during summer months, fruits and vegetables grown within a state’s borders make up
a fifth of the produce available in Wal-Mart stores. And the company said it will begin sourcing more local produce.
Pam Kohn, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president and general merchandise
manager for grocery said, "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."
This year, Wal-Mart expects to source about $400 million in locally
grown produce from farmers across the United States. The company gave
no previous year figures.
Locally grown produce is important in reducing
"food miles"–the distance food travels from farm to fork. It is
estimated that in the United States, produce travels an average of
1,500 miles from farms to the homes of consumers. Through better
logistics planning, better packing of trucks and local sourcing,
Wal-Mart said it can save millions of food miles each year.
Wal-Mart announced its locally grown commitment in a Supercenter in
DeKalb County, Georgia. The event featured an in-store farmers’
market with growers on hand to educate customers about produce.
The company did not suggest that such in-store markets will be a regular part of ongoing operations.
Georgia onion farmer Delbert Bland is one of the growers who
participated in the Decatur event. His family farm has been in
operation in Glennville, Ga. since the 1940s, and he is featured on
in-store signage in the Atlanta area.
"We are proud to see our onions sold in Wal-Mart stores across
Georgia and knowing that we are helping to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions is an added value," Bland said.
Wal-Mart said that partnerships with local farmers have grown by 50% over the past two years.
In addition, Wal-Mart said it is working with state departments of
agriculture and local farmers to develop or revitalize growing areas
for products like corn in Mississippi and cilantro in Southern Florida.
The company is also dedicating space on its web site to locally grown produce, including farmer profiles and recipes.
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