Oh, yes. I saw it coming. Eating local is going mainstream. This coming Tuesday, Wal-Mart and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture will formally launch a partnership to promote “Certified SC Grown” produce in Wal-Mart stores across the state, kicking it off with a press conference at the Airport Wal-Mart in North Charleston
Speaking at the event will be Ashley Rawl of W. P. Rawl & Sons up in Pelion, SC. The press release for the event describes Rawl as a “local farmer” (though he seems to wear a few hats and sometimes has to also serve as the Director of Marketing). Rawl & Sons products include pre-washed, chopped, and packaged kale, collards, turnip greens and mustard greens grown on their small family farm (only 2,500 acres or so of fields) where the family and a few hundred close friends ship some 35 tractor trailer loads a day from their packing facilities.
Eating local just gets easier and easier!
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I noticed that the West Ashley Walmart has a big sign about how they are now featuring local produce. So, being curious, I looked around. There was a “SC Grown” sign up next to the avocados… which were each labeled with a sticker that read “California Avocado”. There was another “SC Grown” sign next to a price, but it didn’t seem to be associated with any actual produce item.
Oh well. I’d rather get my produce at the Farmer’s Market anyway.