In the News: Wal-Mart to Support Local Farms

Reader Contribution by Ariel Tilson
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<p>It seems the local sustainable food movement is continuing its advance onto produce shelves and kitchen tables around the nation. I know I’ve been pleased at the increase in affordable organic produce at grocery stores in my area. I try to shop at the farmer’s market when I can, but it always seems easier to pick up my fruits and veggies while I’m already at the store, especially during the winter.</p>
<p>In fact I will admit that I sometimes shop in the Wal-Mart produce section out of convenience and laziness. But I was surprised to read this article, <a href=”http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/03/the-great-grocery-smackdown/7904/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#800080″>”The Great Grocery Smackdown,”</font>
</a> by <a href=”http://www.theatlantic.com/corby-kummer/” target=”_blank”>Corby Kummer</a> at <a href=”http://www.theatlantic.com/” target=”_blank”>
<em>The Atlantic</em>
</a>. Apparently, Wal-Mart is actively involved in encouraging local food production and more sustainable practices with their program <a href=”http://http//walmartstores.com/Video/?id=719″ target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#800080″>Heritage Agriculture</font>
</a>. The program will encourage local farms (farms within a day’s drive of one of its warehouses) to grow crops that now take days to ship from states like Florida or California.</p>
<p align=”center”>
<br />
Photo by The Falafel/Courtesy Flickr<br />
<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/xpontius/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/xpontius/</a>
</p>
<p>It’s worth looking more closely at your local grocery store to see what improvements are in their produce section. I’ll always support local farmers, but next time I’m short on time and short on cash, I won’t feel quite so guilty tossing organic produce into my Wal-Mart shopping cart.</p>
<p>
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<p>Where do you buy produce? How do you feel about local sustainable food initiatives? Leave a comment and get a conversation started!</p>
<p>Also, if you’re interested in fewer trips to the grocery store and want to start growing your own produce, check out this article, <a href=”https://www.motherearthliving.com/gardening/step-by-step-your-garden-grows-design-easy-kitchen-garden.aspx”>
<font color=”#800080″>
<strong>Step By Step Your Garden Grows: Design an Easy Kitchen Garden</strong>
</font>
</a>, by Jim Long.</p>

  • Published on Mar 4, 2010
Tagged with: Reader Contributions
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