Utah Grocers Expand Produce Section with More Locally-Grown Items

Summer is peak produce season and Macey’s, Lin’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market and Fresh Market stores are adding some Utah love to the produce department with Local Farmers Markets. The in-store program includes signage highlighting Utah-grown produce and the farmers who supply them, as well as parking lot tent sales on Saturdays. The program launched the first of July and has been successful in increasing produce sales and guest count in each store, say company officials. 

“Buying from Utah farmers and growers allows us to offer our guests the freshest produce at great prices, since it doesn’t have to travel as far,” says Danni Barnhart, produce manager for Associated Retail Operations, the banner’s parent company. “As locally-owned retailers, it is important for us to support other local businesses, especially our farmers and growers. Our guests love that we offer a wide variety of Utah grown products.”

The Local Farmers Market program is made possible through a partnership between Associated Retail Operations and 33 Utah farmers and growers, including Bangerter Farms, Houwelings Tomatoes and Hartley’s Best Onions. Each of the farmers are GAP certified or in the final stages of achieving the certification, which was set by the USDA as part of the new food safety regulations. The program aligns with industry trends that show local is the new organic according to consumer preferences, officials add.

The Local Farmers Market events on Saturdays will run through Sept. 3. The stores will continue to promote the local items in the produce department through September, supply permitting.

Associated Retail Operations consists of five local grocery stores owned by Associated Food Stores, an independent, retailer-owned grocery wholesaler based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The stores operate under five different banners, Macey’s, Lin’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market and Fresh Market.