Wal-Mart, CDFA and Cal-Giant celebrate locally grown strawberries
Wal-Mart, CDFA and Cal-Giant celebrate locally grown strawberries
ROSEVILLE, CA -- With a massive display of locally grown California strawberries as a backdrop, the California Department of Food & Agriculture joined Wal-Mart and Watsonville, CA-based California Giant Inc. at a special event promoting locally grown California strawberries at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, here, March 26.
The event also focused on the health benefits of strawberries and played up Wal-Mart's partnership with local producers to bring fresh, locally grown strawberries to California customers.
"Wal-Mart's ongoing effort to build partnerships" with CDFA's California Grown program and with California suppliers such as California Giant "speaks to our commitment to provide our customers with the freshest locally grown produce available," said Henry Jordan, Wal-Mart regional general manager.
"If you took all the California strawberries sold in California Wal-Mart stores last year and lined them up end to end, it would be enough to stretch from San Diego to Monterey," he said. "We are proud to be one of the venues to promote that great product to our customers."
"Seeing strawberries arrive in the stores is like the first taste of spring. They are always fresh and delicious, and they are good for you, too," said David Pegos, assistant secretary of legislation for CDFA. "We hope you will enjoy these wonderful berries as well as the 65 other locally grown products here at the Wal-Mart Supercenter."
California is "the number one state in the nation" with regard to agriculture and with regard to specialty crops, Mr. Pegos said. "We are number one in strawberries" and in a number of other commodities as well. California is also the nation's foremost agricultural exporting state, he said.
The combined agricultural production and processing industry in California directly accounts for "$98 billion of the state's sales output and 750,000 of the state's jobs," Mr. Pegos said.
"We love the opportunity that Wal-Mart has given us to be part of their family and partner with them," said Bill Moncovich, president and chief executive officer of California Giant, which grows strawberries on more than 2,400 acres throughout California, in addition to blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Wal-Mart buys "locally grown produce" whenever feasible, and "that has helped our business immensely," he said.
Wal-Mart is a "unique customer" in that "they set the standards in most everything that they do," said Mr. Moncovich. "They make us socially and environmentally responsible, and we are just proud to be a part of their family. They lead the way in the way that we conduct our business to the consumer, the end customer."
As a grower-shipper of fresh strawberries, California Giant contributes "to the health of American consumers by providing an abundant, healthy and delicious product," said Mr. Moncovich. "We are also committed to supporting organizations that send positive messages about the importance of combining diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle."
Darren Gee, a grower for California Giant and who farms more than 650 acres of strawberries in Santa Maria, CA, said, "We do take a great deal of pride in our relationship with California Giant."
Mr. Gee, who has been growing strawberries for over 25 years and for California Giant for the past 10 years, added that he recently signed "a brand new five-year contract, so I'm hoping to retire a part of the California Giant family. And Wal-Mart is a huge part of our business."
Motioning to the backdrop behind the podium, Mr. Gee added, "This is probably the greatest display of strawberries I have ever witnessed."
The event also focused on the health benefits of strawberries and played up Wal-Mart's partnership with local producers to bring fresh, locally grown strawberries to California customers.
"Wal-Mart's ongoing effort to build partnerships" with CDFA's California Grown program and with California suppliers such as California Giant "speaks to our commitment to provide our customers with the freshest locally grown produce available," said Henry Jordan, Wal-Mart regional general manager.
"If you took all the California strawberries sold in California Wal-Mart stores last year and lined them up end to end, it would be enough to stretch from San Diego to Monterey," he said. "We are proud to be one of the venues to promote that great product to our customers."
"Seeing strawberries arrive in the stores is like the first taste of spring. They are always fresh and delicious, and they are good for you, too," said David Pegos, assistant secretary of legislation for CDFA. "We hope you will enjoy these wonderful berries as well as the 65 other locally grown products here at the Wal-Mart Supercenter."
California is "the number one state in the nation" with regard to agriculture and with regard to specialty crops, Mr. Pegos said. "We are number one in strawberries" and in a number of other commodities as well. California is also the nation's foremost agricultural exporting state, he said.
The combined agricultural production and processing industry in California directly accounts for "$98 billion of the state's sales output and 750,000 of the state's jobs," Mr. Pegos said.
"We love the opportunity that Wal-Mart has given us to be part of their family and partner with them," said Bill Moncovich, president and chief executive officer of California Giant, which grows strawberries on more than 2,400 acres throughout California, in addition to blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Wal-Mart buys "locally grown produce" whenever feasible, and "that has helped our business immensely," he said.
Wal-Mart is a "unique customer" in that "they set the standards in most everything that they do," said Mr. Moncovich. "They make us socially and environmentally responsible, and we are just proud to be a part of their family. They lead the way in the way that we conduct our business to the consumer, the end customer."
As a grower-shipper of fresh strawberries, California Giant contributes "to the health of American consumers by providing an abundant, healthy and delicious product," said Mr. Moncovich. "We are also committed to supporting organizations that send positive messages about the importance of combining diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle."
Darren Gee, a grower for California Giant and who farms more than 650 acres of strawberries in Santa Maria, CA, said, "We do take a great deal of pride in our relationship with California Giant."
Mr. Gee, who has been growing strawberries for over 25 years and for California Giant for the past 10 years, added that he recently signed "a brand new five-year contract, so I'm hoping to retire a part of the California Giant family. And Wal-Mart is a huge part of our business."
Motioning to the backdrop behind the podium, Mr. Gee added, "This is probably the greatest display of strawberries I have ever witnessed."
