BI-LO Launches Campaign to Promote Local Farmers and Produce

As summer heats up, BI-LO stores are ripe with an abundance of fresh, flavorful local produce. The crisp, cool program in South Carolina seeks to educate customers about the benefits and variety of produce options that are available throughout the summer and into the fall, thanks to local farmers across the state.

The company’s local produce initiative is designed to help showcase the farmers BI-LO partners with to provide locally grown produce. The produce is of the highest quality, freshness and sustainability – all major criteria for any Walter’s produce sold at BI-LO. To ensure that the local produce meets Walter’s high standards of quality and freshness, it is inspected three times: at the farm, at the warehouse and at the store.

BI-LO ensures that its local produce is left untouched until it’s fully ripened, packed with the maximum amount of flavorful, natural nutrients. This attention to detail results in produce that’s sweeter, juicier, longer lasting and extremely healthy. The company only works with farmers that yield the best, most consistently fresh produce.

“Nearly 50 percent of BI-LO’s produce comes from farmers across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee,” said Bob Denomme, Director of Produce with BI-LO. “Throughout the summer months we hope our customers will taste first-hand our extensive selection of high-quality, fresh and affordable local produce.”

Hot days, humid nights and rich soil make South Carolina one of the best places in the country to grow produce. BI-LO’s local produce campaign highlights partnerships with local farmers in South Carolina, including: Phil Sandifer Farm of Blackville, S.C., Randy Johnson Farm of Pageland, S.C., who grow watermelons, Rawls Farm of Pelion, S.C., who grow greens, Titan Farms of Ridge Spring, S.C., who grow peaches, Coosaw Farms of Fairfax, S.C., Hillard Farms of Santee, S.C., who grow mustard seeds, turnips, collard greens and rutabagas, Northside Greenhouse of Travelers Rest, S.C., who grow flowers and John’s Island Charleston Farm of Johns Island, S.C., among many others.

In addition to the great quality and price benefits customers gained by buying local, they are also helping out the local economy and protecting the environment by purchasing locally grown produce. Selecting this produce not only supports the farmers, but also the distributors and drivers that transport the product from the fields to the stores. On average, trucks carrying local produce emit four times less emissions than trucks carrying produce grown in the global market, so the miles to deliver the product are reduced by transporting local produce, lessening greenhouse emissions and driver’s reliance on oil for gas.