Among those attending Walmart's locally grown initiative were Ira Dukes of Hinds
Community College, Henry Cooper of Country Meat Packers, Harry Horton of Walmart,
 Bobby Shumpert of Walmart, Doug Reynolds of Walmart Jimmy Pace
 of Walmart and Tice White of Walmart

Walmart looks to expand locally-grown products

In an effort to increase the number of locally-grown products sold at stores throughout Mississippi, MEC member Walmart is working to identify Mississippi farmers who grow fruits and vegetables.

The company said the locally-grown initiative allows Walmart to continue its long-standing commitment to be a good neighbor and corporate citizen. It will also support rural economies and improve the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The goal, according to Doug Reynolds, a local sourcing buyer for Walmart, is to shorten the distance from the farm to the fork. Reducing the amount of food miles – the miles that products travel from the farm to the store – is environmentally friendly, Reynolds said. In many cases, local farmers are able to delver their product directly to the store.

Working through the “Make Mine Mississippi” program, Walmart uses signage to highlight locally-grown productions in its stores. The signage is easy to recognize and is designed to let shoppers know the products have gained the approval of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture.

In addition to produce, Walmart sells Mississippi farm-raised catfish, pork products from Florence-base Country Meat Packers and Dixon's Central pork skins from Central Snacks Inc. in Carthage. Central Snacks owned by MEC member N.L. Carson.

Over the past two years, Walmart’s partnerships with local farmers have grown by 50 percent. The company estimates it purchases more than 70 percent of its produce from U.S.-based suppliers.

For more information about the program, contact Doug Reynolds at doug.reynolds@wal-mart.com or 662-538-4042.