Blogging NPR: Wal-Mart to Sell Local Produce

First it was Wal-Mart's venture into the organic produce market that had everyone abuzz.

Now, they're going to save the company around $400 million in shipping costs--by buying from local farmers.

The superstore that we sometimes love to hate is taking the Locavore approach, saying they want to cut food miles and citing the now well-known average mileage food travels (1,500 miles) as a big reason for going local.

Sounds good, right?

NPR's story this morning touched on all the big points, and it seems like there are some flaws to this local food plan.

In a roundabout way, it will affect farmers who ship their goods elsewhere. And "local" to Wal-Mart means within the state--not around the corner. And, of course, it could put farmer's markets in jeopardy if local produce is available at a big-box store.

But...if more people begin buying local, isn't that a step in the right direction?

So who wins here? And is it really a green move? Tell us what you think.

Photo: Danny Johnston

Comments (12)

That is really awesome. Although if I know Wally-mart they have something up their sleeves.

For the record I actually hate Walmart.
That being said, the 2 Walmarts I know of in the bay area are also in places where farmers markets are expensive and/or hard to come by. I do think that it will help to get fresh, local produce to people that otherwise wouldn't have access.

Going to farmer's markets is a cultural thing, too, so I have no concern this will affect them. It targets larger producers, not small scale growers.
I also think it is nitpicky at the least to worry about the produce being from within the state as opposed to within 20 miles. Even a multi-state regional distribution plan would be a good thing.
I still don't shop at Wal-Mart (I don't even know where the closest one to me is), but anything that gets better quality produce to customers and cuts energy usage is a step in the right direction.

The NPR story also went on to point out that the local farms that WalMart uses as suppliers are mega-agriculture operations. WalMart is just changing their supply stream in order to cut down on transport costs. The produce is likely very similarly grown, harvested and stored, but now with less fuel used to get it to market.

I guess it's a small improvement, but it shouldn't allow WalMart to try to don the cloak of being almost like a Farmer's Market. It's simply not the same sort of quality.

Kuumba, you ain't kiddin'! If I go to the Ferry Building FM (the only one I can get to that has decent selection as in more than strawberries and tomatos) it costs me a fortune! $17 for a half flat of organic strawberries?! Even if that does net me 11 half-pints of jam and a bag full of home-frozen strawberries that hurts.

I shop there anyway because I like browsing and being out in the sun and getting local stuff but OUCH. It puts a serious dent in my food budget.

Laila took the words right out of my mouth.

Looks like I'm with the concensus... it's a good thing but I still won't shop there.

Adding my 2 cents of agreement with the comments here. I suppose it's better than NOT attempting sort of local plan. Still won't be handing my cash over to them. Luckily, my farmers market (in walking distance to my house) isn't an over priced monster - so I see no need to change that.

But I see people swarming into WalMart in droves. If at least a few of them are buying produce that was shipped clear across the country, I GUESS I should be pleased.

Baby steps. Very small and reserved baby steps.

Uh, that was supposed to read 'WASN'T shipped clear across the country.'

At least if this statement is true:

the local farms that WalMart uses as suppliers are mega-agriculture operations

then WalMart's insistence on the absolute lowest price from its suppliers won't have a negative effect on the small farms who sell at farmer's markets/roadside stands/CSAs. Presumably, these farmers will still be able to compete in their current markets. But don't expect WalMart to make the distinction between their mega-agricultural partners and the veggie stand down the street. I expect that they will dilute the moniker "locally grown" by applying it as liberally as possible to every item of produce in the store.

I don't know if it is true, but in one anti-Wal-mart story I read a while back, they were advertising local lettuce, but failing to mention that it travelled 400 miles round trip to be irradiated and washed prior to being sold 2 miles from the "local" farm. Wonder if they are cutting out their "quality control" steps too? Or are they just advertising something they've always done, because now it is "hip."

This is a *very* smart business move for WalMart- if it works, they'll save a bundle on shipping costs and probably get a more "environmentally sensitive" label from the masses of people who are trying to find the cheapest food-like substances. That said, it doesn't change my opinion of them (a politically uber-conservative, bottom-line-focused, community-insensitive retail behemoth); I'll still be buying *my* produce at the farmer's market, where I can talk to the person who grew it!