Can you find organic and local food at your local Walmart? Yes, at least in the Boston and Austin areas, according to the March 2010 The Atlantic. The writer Corby Kummer even holds a ”grocery smackdown,” buying identifical ingredients from Walmart and Whole Foods and illiciting the help of a chef to make two four-course meals. You’ll have to read to find out who wins.
After seeing Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price, I’ve become even more skeptical of the changes that Walmart is trying to make these days. But there are Walmarts everywhere and, if they do start selling fresh, healthy food, I think they could have a positive effect on our eating habits, especially in areas where fresh food isn’t readily available. Someone in my running group said a new Walmart is opening in Baltimore, and I’m now interested to see if they have produce, what it looks like, and where it’s from.
Have you been to a Walmart that sells organic and local produce? Would you shop there for fresh food?
Photo courtesy of AlishaV from Flickr
Even if a local Baltimore Walmart starts providing healthy organic produce, it will be difficult to silence my thoughts I have about their ethical choices in other areas. I’d prefer to buy from the local Farmer’s Markets and support Baltimore and Maryland agriculture.
i’m conflicted too, but the article does indicate that walmart plans on buying some of their produce locally, which is interesting, and bringing fresh produce to underserved areas and regions is also a good thing. also not everyone has access to nor can afford to shop a local greenmarket. but i agree, i’ll continue to shop at the local greenmarket and neighborhood veggie stands.
@kenny and @hg: I agree with both of you. I’ll still go to the farmers market for produce. But the fact that not everyone has access to markets is a good point. I went on a trip to a small town in a Midwest state several years ago, and the local Walmart seemed to be the center of the town. Fresh produce and other foods sold at that store would be able to reach a lot of people. That’s what’s so strange – that Walmart could have a big, positive impact on the food system. It will be interesting to see if this idea spreads to a majority of their stores.