The program will put more locally grown food in Wal-Mart stores in the United States, "invest in training and infrastructure for small and medium-size farmers, particularly in emerging markets, and begin to measure how efficiently large suppliers grow and get their produce into stores."
Wal-Mart is the "world's largest grocer, with one of the biggest food supply chains" and "any change made to it would have wide implications." Five years ago, Wal-Mart's decision to "set sustainability goals that, among other things, increased its reliance on renewable energy and reduced packaging waste among its suppliers that sent broad ripples through product manufacturers."
In the United States, the retailer plans to "double the percentage of locally grown produce it sells to 9 percent," defining "local" as grown and sold within the same state. In Canada, Wal-Mart's plans are more ambitious, planning to buy 30 percent of its produce locally by the end of 2013.
Wal-Mart will provide training "on how to choose crops that are in demand and on the proper application of water and pesticides" for small and medium farmers, which it defines as farmers with less than 20 hectacres (about 50 acres).
Some local food advocates say that Wal-Mart's plans cannot provide some of the benefits of other local food movements, such as farmers markets. Linda Berlin, director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Vermont, said that "farmers' markets help return money to the local economy."
Others, including Margaret Mellon, director of the food and environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists said that Wal-Mart's program was "impressive" and "encouraging."
To read the New York Times story, click here.
Posted: 10/15/2010
