ShopRite launches annual 'Locally Grown' campaign

ShopRite has announced the launch of its annual “Locally Grown” campaign. This year’s program features expanded partnerships with local farmers and a dietitian-driven focus on the health and wellness benefits of fresh produce.
“We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s locally grown program is going to be bigger than ever before,” said Derrick Jenkins, ShopRite’s vice president of Floral and Produce. “Not only are we working with more local growers and offering unique products, such as locally grown organic blueberries to our shoppers, but we’re also spreading the word about the health and wellness benefits of produce by partnering with our in-store dietitians to provide recipes, cooking demonstrations and community education.”
A. Gurda Produce
ShopRite stores in the Hudson Valley (including Warwick, Chester and Monroe) are primarily serviced by A. Gurda Produce of Pine Island. In June, they provided the stores with leaf lettuce, cooking greens and radishes. As the season progresses, they provide squash, cucumbers, corn, potatoes and onions.
Jenkins said that ShopRite has a long history of working with local farmers and, each year, the program increases in size as the supermarket partners with a growing number of hyper-local growers, as well as farmers who are utilizing new technologies, such as hydroponic farming.
Reducing the company's carbon footprint
“ShopRite is a family business that has been supporting local, family farmers for more than 50 years, long before local was trendy,” Jenkins said. “Our locally grown produce is handpicked at the peak of freshness and delivered from farms within our market area. This supports the local economy and also reduces the carbon footprint of deliveries to our stores."
Conveying the many health benefits of fresh produce is also top of mind for the retailer during this year’s campaign.
“Our team of over 100 in-store retail dietitians are excited to inspire our shoppers about the many benefits of enjoying and cooking with fresh produce,” said Natalie Menza-Crowe, RD, MS, Director of Health and Wellness at ShopRite. “Whether it’s through in-store demonstrations, community-based workshops or social media videos, our local health and wellness experts are on a mission to educate our shoppers and teach them delicious and easy ways to incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables into their menus.”