13 Jun

Wal-Mart To Begin Supporting Local Farmers

Written by Jolene Borrelli
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Wal-Mart has made a commitment to sourcing local produce in some areas.

Big-box retailer Wal-Mart has committed to sourcing fruit and vegetables for its fresh produce section directly from farmers. The mega-store is known to cut costs by eliminating its reliance on warehouses and distributors, but the news comes on a positive note since it will mean better prices for both growers and consumers.

The new initiative, called "The Direct Farm Program," is set to debut in the US, China, India, Central America and Brazil and where Wal-Mart is primarily a grocer, which is mainly outside the US. The company has emphasized that it will give preference to small and medium sized farms.

"Walmart believes it can help to address basic food insecurity by directly connecting farmers with markets, taking food waste out of the supply chain, motivating farmers to produce more with fewer inputs and to source key agricultural products responsibly," the program's website states.

So far no commitment has been made to source organic or non-GMO produce.