Eat Arkansas

Shopping at Wal-Mart is, actually, avoidable--I haven't shopped there in many years based on the principle that they have devastated many local economies and put many local farmers out of business. Their "want" now to sell local produce is only a reflection of a trend toward supporting local farmers and jumping on some proverbial "green" bandwagon. I support local industry and that's why I'll stick with local farmer's markets and food stands instead of giving another dollar to a corporation that doesn't exactly have the best track record in supporting anything local except tax breaks for big business.

Look, I know you needed to return to Arkansas and school all of us, but to harsh on Scott McGehee and give Wal-Mart a break?
You can't be serious. The large majority of Wal-Mart's produce comes from Mexico. How do I know this? I used to work there. With produce. And they can use chemicals on the veggies down there that American farmers haven't been able to use in 50 years. So please spare us from Wal-Mart's PR attempts to "buy local". Their goods are from China, the veggies from Mexico.
And do you honestly think that any of the minimum wage crew that works there knows ANYTHING about where the food really comes from?

Mrs. Basil...you are simply wrong. I don't know any other way to put it. I worked in produce at Wal-Mart for 7 years and was the manager for 3 of those. We ordered locally grown produce every single time it was available (and this was 5-10 years ago). These items included tomatoes, cantelope, watermelon, peaches, apples, greens, squash, zucchini, strawberries, and fresh herbs. Basically, every single item that is available locally, in large enough quantities, in Arkansas and southern Missouri were offered at Wal-Mart.

For you to say that the large majority of Wal-Mart's produce comes from Mexico is simply a distortion of facts. Much of it is imported, just like every other produce department in grocery stores. For example, Apples come from Washington, New Zealand, and Chile, Bananas come from Central America, kiwis from New Zealand, potatoes from Idaho, Vidalia onions from Georgia, iceberg lettuce from Mexico, corn from Nebraska and Kansas, strawberries from California and Florida, oranges and grapefruit from Texas, Florida, and California, blood oranges from Italy, and most all the stonefruit hails from California.

Razor:

Sorry if I painted with too broad a brush. I don't doubt your qualifications. The store I worked in was in Northwest Arkansas. And maybe you could fault my memory, but other than the shipments of Rocky Ford canteloupes, Washington apples, etc., I remember almost every box of tomatoes and bell peppers that we received as being labeled Mexico. So sorry if I oversimplified to make a point.
My point is, I agree with Andrea. There is no reason to go to Wal-Mart, especially if you are looking for "local produce."

At least some of Wal-Mart's wines come from Arkansas. That is more than you can say for any restaurant in the Little Rock area I've visited in the past two years.

I've noted that the new Whole Foods Market has little signs in their produce section letting you know that the food is local- or at least from our state.

And, believe it or not- their prices are not as pay-check devouring as one might think- they might be a little higher- but prices are high everywhere.