RALEIGH, NC — The Kroger Co., the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer with 16 locations throughout the Triangle, has announced that it will expand its produce department to include locally grown strawberries from Jackson Farming Company, located in Autryville, N.C. The farm began operations in 1981 cultivating a variety of melons, including watermelon and honeydew, and it continues to run as a family-owned and operated business today, growing, packing, shipping and brokering fresh fruits and vegetables year round. Producing more than 50,000 flats of strawberries during its growing season, Jackson Farming Company's strawberries will be offered across all Kroger locations in the Raleigh-Durham market. Additional produce will be available at Kroger in the future based on seasonality.
"With a continued commitment to support local farms and North Carolina agriculture as a whole, we are pleased to announce our partnership with Jackson Farming Company and the opportunity this will allow us to provide Kroger customers with fresh and localized produce that comes directly from our backyard," said Carl York, advertising & public relations manager for Kroger's mid-Atlantic marketing region. "Kroger has consistently maintained a focus on both community relations and providing customers with the best food possible, so having the opportunity to align ourselves with a local North Carolina farmer who is committed to that same initiative is truly an honor."
DETAILS:
– Jackson Farming Company produces a wide range of produce, including melons, strawberries, pumpkins, broccoli and sweet potatoes. For more information, visit http://www.jfcmelons.com/index.html.
– Kroger is expected sell the Jackson Farming Company's melons in the summer months. The production of the company's melons will begin just after the July 4 holiday season.
ABOUT KROGER:
Kroger, the nation's largest traditional grocery retailer, has 16 stores throughout the Triangle. Headquartered in Cincinnati, the company employs more than 338,000 associates who serve customers in 2,439 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Jay C, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 788 convenience stores, 361 fine jewelry stores, 1,046 supermarket fuel centers and 40 food processing plants in the United States. Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://www.kroger.com.
Source: Kroger
