Southeastern Grocers Makes Commitment to Local Growers

Southeastern Grocers, parent company to BI-LO, Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, has introduced a new local sourcing policy with a commitment to only source produce from local farms and orchards in the Southeast whenever possible.

Southeastern Grocers is completely devoted to helping grow Southeastern agriculture and provide customers with the freshest local produce by developing and maintaining great relationships with local farmers and growers. Currently up to 30 percent of Southeastern Grocers’ fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables are sourced directly from the Southeast.

"We are focused on providing our customers stunning fresh produce; which has been grown by our own neighbors, families and communities in the Southeast," says Ian McLeod, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers. "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,” says McLeod.

“The numbers clearly confirm our customers prefer locally sourced produce. We sell more than 1 million pounds of local strawberries each month and more than 1.1 million pounds of local red potatoes a month each season," adds McLeod.

To honor this commitment, Southeastern Grocers announced set standards for fresh produce: work with its growers to provide a high standard of fresh produce planting, growing and harvesting; all of its produce is inspected by its growers, by its distribution centers and by its stores to provide the best quality product can for their customers; and Southeastern Grocers’ organic products are sourced from certified organic farmers who follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for organic farming, ensuring their crops are grown without synthetic herbicides or pesticides.

Currently 750 Southeastern Grocers stores serve customers over 150 varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables directly from the Southeast.

With over 90 years of experience working with growers in the Southeast, Southeastern Grocers knows how to pick the freshest produce, at peak-of-season perfection, with the best flavor customers expect.