Staff Blog

Wal-Mart Goes Local

"Attention Wal-Mart shoppers, those peaches you are buying just might have been grown at a farm near here." They may not broadcast it over the loudspeaker, but in fact, 20 percent of the vegetables sold at the megastore this summer are grown in-state, according to a company spokesperson. Rising fuel costs are the primary driver behind the superstore's pledge to grow its partnership with local farmers, followed by its much less quantifiable goal of selling products that are earth-friendly and ethically sourced.

No real surprise: Remember that old Econ 101 cost-consumption curve? But is something more significant happening now? Might this be one of a series of corrections that will force some sense into our topsy-turvy food system? I'm hoping so.

Skyrocketing fuel prices are hitting consumers hard, but maybe it will be worth some pain at the cash register today if we end up with a more sensible food production and distribution system tomorrow. Nonrenewable fossil fuels are used to make synthetic farm chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides, power farm equipment, make plastic food storage containers, ship products around the world, and store those items in temperature controlled facilities. If the biggest retailer on the planet is saying, "Let's cut our fuel oil use and source what we can from farms that are close to our stores," then that's the sort of dollars-and-sense response to tough economic times we all should be lining up to support.

© The Green Guide, 2008

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