Southeastern Grocers makes commitment to local growers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers, which is the parent company for the BI-LO, Winn-Dixie and Harveys banners, announced Tuesday a new sourcing policy, committing to only source its produce from local farms and orchards whenever possible. 

 

“We are focused on providing our customers stunning fresh produce; which has been grown by our own neighbors, families and communities in the Southeast,” Southeastern Grocers CEO Ian McLeod said. “Our new Local Sourcing Policy is a commitment to local farms and growers, that will guide how we source produce from both market and farms directly.

 

As part of the commitment, the company has set new standards for fresh produce. The company will work with growers to provide a high standard of produce being planted, grown and harvested; it will ensure the produce is inspected by growers, distribution centers and stores; and it will source its organic products from organic farmers who follow USDA guidelines for organic farming. 

 

Currently, as much as 30% of the company’s in-season produce comes from the southeast, with 750 stores selling over 150 varieties of fruit and vegetables grown in the southeast, and it sells more than a million pounds of local strawberries a month.