What do tainted tomatoes, jalapeo and serrano peppers have in common with high gasoline prices? They are some of the reasons for a growing number of consumers looking closer to home and supporting local producers.
The explosive growth in local foods is good news for NH's producers. We all know fresh local food is readily available at
local farmers' markets, farm stands and co-op stores, but large grocers are also seeking local produce to meet demand. Hannaford is one of the many grocery stores capitalizing on the local movement with their "Close to Home" marketing campaign and farm inspection program.
Since Hannaford Supermarkets implemented this program in 2008, they have been getting to know NH producers better. All produce sold under the "Close to Home" label must be grown within the state it is sold and the store promotes locally grown produce with banners, point of sale materials, and sampling events.
Brookdale Farm is one of the local NH farms that sells fruit and vegetables wholesale to Hannaford, which purchases produce from more than 200 NH, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York and Maine farms.
In fact, given the scope of the locally-grown produce project, the supermarket chain has appointed Will Wedge as director or produce, responsible for visiting and inspecting those 200 farms to ensure that food safety practices are in place.
Located in Hollis, Brookdale is one of 20 NH farms recently inspected by Hannaford. But with the inspection process comes additional work and occasionally additional costs for growers. In order to sell to Hannaford, growers must comply with the company's acceptable farming practices inspection program.
"We want to know the farmers we buy from and we reserve the right to buy only from those with the best quality and farming practices," explains Wedge.
Hannaford's team of quality assurance inspectors identified critical areas that the inspector discusses at every farm visit. But the benefits of farm visits are two-fold. Wedges says, "This is a great opportunity to build relationships with our local growers and see their operations first-hand. Plus, we want to make sure our farm partners are making food safety a prioritythat contaminated water is not being used, that portable toilets and hand washing stations are available for field
workers and that livestock is kept at an acceptable distance from produce fields."
Hannaford encourages producers to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) "Good Agricultural Practices" (GAP) certification program. Currently the program is voluntary. However, in the near future with food safety and traceability becoming more of an issue it is likely that GAP will become mandatory and that Hannaford and other retailers will only accept produce from GAP certified farms.
"There may come a time, when our hands are tied," says Wedge.
Local growers interested in working with Hannaford can speak with a produce manager or contact the company's Close to Home Coordinator Wendy Ward, at 207-885-2711 or by email at weward@hannaford.com.
Maureen Duffy is the NH Farm Bureau's communications director.