Kings Food Markets continues its tradition of bringing customers the freshest, highest-quality ingredients with the 2014 launch of its exclusive 24 Hour Just Picked Promise.

The 24 Hour Just Picked Promise is Kings' commitment to make locally grown, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs available to shoppers within 24 hours of being picked — giving shoppers the benefits of a local farm stand in the convenience of their neighborhood food markets. The program will commence May 23.

"At Kings, we are constantly pushing the boundaries on behalf of our customers, and through our 24 Hour Just Picked Promise, we are able to redefine freshness," Judy Spires, president and chief executive officer of Kings Food Markets, based in Parsippany, NJ, said in a press release. "All summer long, shoppers looking for the crispness, taste and nutrition that only comes from locally grown, fresh produce can come to Kings and look for our 24 Hour Just Picked Promise seal. They can know those fruits, vegetables and herbs were hand-picked on a local farm less than 24 hours ago. It's a commitment to local farmers, quality and freshness you can't get anywhere else."

Kings works with a network of more than 25 regional farmers throughout New Jersey and Connecticut — in towns such as Vineland, Mullica Township, Swedesboro, Landisville, Buena Hammonton, Newfield, Medford, New Lisbon and Millmay, NJ — to deliver all of its Just Picked produce fresh to Kings stores within 24 hours of being hand-picked.

Local farmers supplying the program select only the freshest, seasonal products in the morning, and through an expedited distribution process, they are delivered to Kings' stores and prepared for sale the next day. The program is unique to Kings and was developed in partnership with Massachusetts-based Red Tomato, a non-profit organization committed to better connecting farmers and consumers.

"We're very proud to be able to deliver produce this fresh, from farms in our communities, to our stores and, ultimately, our shoppers," Paul Kneeland, vice president of produce, meat, seafood and floral for Kings Food Markets, added in the press release. "It's the only program of its kind, and now, when our shoppers are picking up their fresh seafood, favorite cut of meat or a new cheese to bring to a party, they can also get the same freshness that's offered at a farm stand right in Kings' produce department — making all those summer flavors really come alive."

Kings customers looking to support local farmers and buy the freshest produce available can look for the 24 Hour Just Picked Promise seal in Kings' stores. The items available at each store will vary daily, although customers can expect to find such summer staples as arugula, basil, cilantro, mint, blueberries, cucumbers, kale and tomatoes with the Just Picked Promise.

For the latest updates on which Just Picked products are available or for weekly recipes incorporating the fresh ingredients, customers can visit Kings' website (www.kingsfoodmarkets.com), follow Kings on Twitter (@KingsFoodMkts) — using the hashtag #KingsJustPicked — or like Kings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingsfoodmarkets).

The program will run in all Kings stores from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with the exception of Kings Old Greenwich in Connecticut, which will start in mid-June.