Wal-Mart Supports Area Farmers

Wal-Mart Supports Area Farmers. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Interest in locally grown agriculture is seeing a huge resurgence and a lot of companies are seeing it as a benefit for their customers. Wal-Mart in Idaho is getting involved with their local agriculture according to Leah Clark, administrator of the Idaho Preferred Program for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. CLARK: For several years we have worked with Wal-Mart during the month of September to help them really promote and identify all of the Idaho products that they are selling, primarily in the produce section because this is the height of harvest season so this year we want to put a little spin on it and add to the effort that we have been doing with Farm to School involving children and local foods and nutrition. Clark says they created their "Ticket to Healthy Snacking" event. CLARK: We're teaming up with some schools in the Meridian District and some teachers who have gone through the "Ag in the Classroom" program to provide students with tickets, and they bring those tickets to the Wal-Mart – just one Wal-Mart – this is the one at Fairview and Eagle in Meridian and they will get a bag of free fruits and vegetables that is a really healthy snacking option rather than what might normally snack on when they come home from school. Idaho's Director of Agriculture, Celia Gould will also be on hand in addition to some local farmers to help distribute the bags and talk about their products. CLARK: This is really a busy time, obviously it's harvest time and a lot of our farmers are extremely busy trying to get their crops harvested and to the stores but they too think this is critical to let consumers know it is just grown south of town or just west of town or just outside of Caldwell or wherever it is and that it's picked ripe so it has wonderful flavor, it supports the local economy and it make it real easy access if it's available at their local Wal-Mart store. Clark says that even though this "Ticket to Healthy Snacking" event is only taking place at one store you can find good local product all over. CLARK: As you walk into the store and into the grocery department you will see very visibly displayed, local foods throughout the month of September. They really do want their customers to know that even thought they are a huge multinational company that they are very supportive of local producers. They've found that the Idaho Preferred logo really helps them quickly and easily identify to their customers what's in the store that's local. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.