Campaign brings local produce to Wal-Mart customers
Campaign brings local produce to Wal-Mart customers
The Maine Potato Board, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the Bushwick Commission have embarked on a campaign to bring the freshest tablestock potatoes to Maine consumers.
Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Seth Bradstreet III was on hand March 15 to kick off the campaign at the Waterville Wal-Mart Supercenter. Wal-Mart Supercenters across Maine featured 10-pound bags with the "Get Real Get Maine!" logo.
The Maine Department of Agriculture and other agricultural organizations are urging consumers to increase their purchase of locally grown foods. Purchasing foods grown locally makes great economic sense since it keeps money in the local community. And it helps preserve Maine farms by keeping them profitable.
"Consumer response to 'buy local' campaigns has been overwhelming. When given a choice between purchasing a Maine-grown product or its equivalent from 'away,' consumers are increasingly supporting Maine farmers," Mr. Bradstreet said in a statement. "One of the biggest challenges for consumers devoted to buying local foods is determining which foods are grown locally. Finding products with the familiar 'Get Real Get Maine!' logo ensures consumers they are purchasing products grown in Maine."
Guerrette Farms, a grower and shipper based in Caribou, ME, is one company that has contracted with Bushwick Commission to supply potatoes to Wal- Mart.
Brian Guerrette, president of Guerrette Farms, said that he is excited about the promotion. "The Wal-Mart program provides a needed boost to our business. We believe Maine has achieved a reputation for good quality potatoes, and the consumer will appreciate finding Maine products on Wal- Mart shelves," he said.
"It's important to Wal-Mart to support local growers, and we're proud to work with the Maine Potato Board to offer our customers this outstanding produce," Wal-Mart Vice President of Produce Ron McCormick said in a statement. "Our customers get an exceptional quality product and the bonus of knowing it's from their own backyard."
The Maine Potato Board said this promotion confirms the quality of Maine product.
"We're promoting the state of Maine, and we're proud to offer some of the best potatoes in the country to an audience that has come to expect high quality and fair price," Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said in the statement.
Ken Gray of the Bushwick Commission, a company that helps Maine farmers market their potatoes, helped organize the promotion with Wal-Mart. He helps determine what the Wal-Mart stores will need in any given week.
"Wal-Mart expressed the need for more high-quality regionally correct Maine produce," Mr. Gray said. "The "Get Real Get Maine!" campaign is a perfect fit for the Wal-Mart stores in Maine and creates a win-win situation for everyone. The campaign reinforces Wal-Mart's commitment to supporting Maine agriculture, and it also gets more of our Maine produce in the marketplace and in front of the consumer."
In addition, Bushwick and the Maine Potato Board provided a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Wal-Mart Associates and its customers all across the country support 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals that provide the finest care, research and community outreach to help millions of children with diseases and injuries of every kind. The donation shows the organizations' commitment to the communities they serve.
Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Seth Bradstreet III was on hand March 15 to kick off the campaign at the Waterville Wal-Mart Supercenter. Wal-Mart Supercenters across Maine featured 10-pound bags with the "Get Real Get Maine!" logo.
The Maine Department of Agriculture and other agricultural organizations are urging consumers to increase their purchase of locally grown foods. Purchasing foods grown locally makes great economic sense since it keeps money in the local community. And it helps preserve Maine farms by keeping them profitable.
"Consumer response to 'buy local' campaigns has been overwhelming. When given a choice between purchasing a Maine-grown product or its equivalent from 'away,' consumers are increasingly supporting Maine farmers," Mr. Bradstreet said in a statement. "One of the biggest challenges for consumers devoted to buying local foods is determining which foods are grown locally. Finding products with the familiar 'Get Real Get Maine!' logo ensures consumers they are purchasing products grown in Maine."
Guerrette Farms, a grower and shipper based in Caribou, ME, is one company that has contracted with Bushwick Commission to supply potatoes to Wal- Mart.
Brian Guerrette, president of Guerrette Farms, said that he is excited about the promotion. "The Wal-Mart program provides a needed boost to our business. We believe Maine has achieved a reputation for good quality potatoes, and the consumer will appreciate finding Maine products on Wal- Mart shelves," he said.
"It's important to Wal-Mart to support local growers, and we're proud to work with the Maine Potato Board to offer our customers this outstanding produce," Wal-Mart Vice President of Produce Ron McCormick said in a statement. "Our customers get an exceptional quality product and the bonus of knowing it's from their own backyard."
The Maine Potato Board said this promotion confirms the quality of Maine product.
"We're promoting the state of Maine, and we're proud to offer some of the best potatoes in the country to an audience that has come to expect high quality and fair price," Don Flannery, executive director of the Maine Potato Board, said in the statement.
Ken Gray of the Bushwick Commission, a company that helps Maine farmers market their potatoes, helped organize the promotion with Wal-Mart. He helps determine what the Wal-Mart stores will need in any given week.
"Wal-Mart expressed the need for more high-quality regionally correct Maine produce," Mr. Gray said. "The "Get Real Get Maine!" campaign is a perfect fit for the Wal-Mart stores in Maine and creates a win-win situation for everyone. The campaign reinforces Wal-Mart's commitment to supporting Maine agriculture, and it also gets more of our Maine produce in the marketplace and in front of the consumer."
In addition, Bushwick and the Maine Potato Board provided a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Wal-Mart Associates and its customers all across the country support 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals that provide the finest care, research and community outreach to help millions of children with diseases and injuries of every kind. The donation shows the organizations' commitment to the communities they serve.
