JimBaker’s Recent Comments

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  me read source article

  I did read the source articles. Their new marketing is misleading.  Check out how much they are touting their "local produce", it's ridiculous.

  They shouldn't be using the word "local" at all.  It's a huge stretch.  There are only 112 distribution centers. Each serves 75-100 Wal-Mart stores within an average radius of 250 miles.  That means big corporate farms and long rides.

  To most people, "local" does not mean 2/3/4/5/6 hours away.   On Wal-Mart gobbles up local produce posted 1 year, 5 months ago 23 Responses

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  Hype

  It is very unlikely that this move is as substantive as WMT's marketing implies.

  First, Wal-Mart is sourcing at farms that are near its DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.  They are not sourcing near local stores.  These suppliers are highly unlikely to be the farms you imagine when you think of "farmer's markets."  They are probably very large, corporate farms capable of supplying several Wal-Mart stores with produce.  "Farmers" is probably not the correct word to describe these entities.

  Second, remember that 80% of what you buy at Wal-Mart is NOT locally sourced.  The vast majority of Wal-Mart's produce is stale and old.. and may have been carted in from another country.  

  If you want to support local growers, go to your nearest farmer's market.  Not Whole Foods.  Not Wal-Mart.  On Wal-Mart gobbles up local produce posted 1 year, 5 months ago 23 Responses