The one-day event will also include special presentations by Wakefern leaders in produce sourcing and quality assurance, panels with Wakefern members who operate ShopRite stores, and industry leaders and local suppliers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to do “speed meetings” with existing growers to learn more about what it’s like to work with Wakefern.
"Wakefern’s Produce Local Supplier Summit is another way to help small- and mid-size local growers bring their fresh produce to our stores. ShopRite stores are owned and operated by families who belong to our supermarket cooperative and live and work in the communities where their stores operate. We want local farmers and growers to know we are here and committed to being farm fresh. We want to work with them,” said Mark Van Buskirk, group vice president of fresh for Wakefern.
The application process for the summit runs through May 30. Applicants are encouraged to share their brand or product’s origin story as part of the application process for the supplier summit.
Local farmers and growers should also be headquartered in states where Wakefern supermarket banners operate, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. A team at Wakefern will consider the RangeMe applications and meet with the potential new growers at or before the July 9 summit. Produce growers set to attend and participate in panels at the summit include Hudson River Fruit Distributors, Minkus Family Farms, Frank Donio Inc. and The Masser Family of Cos.
