WalMart Rediscovers Local Produce

While our own federal government is erecting roadblocks to local products, the world's largest retailer says it is on a mission to stock its food aisles with local produce.

WalMart is a company that I love to hate, but I've got to admit that when they throw their considerable weight behind something, they can get results. In a hurry. Now WalMart is starting to play smart with food in ways that could benefit local agriculture.

During the last two years, partnerships between local farms and WalMart have jumped 50 percent, and the company anticipates it will source about $400 million in local produce this year, making it the country's largest buyer of produce that is grown and sold within a state's borders.

Why the sudden change? Fuel prices. For instance, instead of buying peaches from just two suppliers nationwide, WalMart can buy peaches from growers in 18 different states and save 100,000 gallons of dieself fuel. 70% of the produce that WalMart buys is produced in the US. WalMart says it plans to get aggressive, encouraging states to start growing a greater variety of crops to fill those produce department bins.