Here's the scenario: with a coupon for $1.00 off a bag of Dole lettuce, I ran into my friendly, neighborhood, Kroger store on the way home one night this week. With the produce area directly ahead, I started scanning the horizon for the section of the department that usually held the Dole products. Whoa! What's that? I'm staring at row after row of nothing by Kroger "Private Selection" lettuce! Dejected that I couldn't use my Dole coupon, I headed home with the bag of Kroger produce. (In Kroger's support, the neat little machine at the checkout DID kick out a coupon for $1.00 off my next purchase of Private Selection lettuce).
Within a day of my discovery, an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (via Associated Press) noted that Kroger was making a major shift toward private brand items because they can control the production and manufacturing and get it to the shelf faster.
Still, it was one of those things that just continue to push me toward becoming a true locavore - one who searches out only locally-grown products. It's easy during the summer, thanks to the various local Farmers' Markets (apologies for the video production. Let's just call it "new-camera-syndrome")...
Argenta Farmers' Market from Doug Krile on Vimeo.
During the winter months, it's a bit trickier. However, with a local market opening right across the street from the Farmers' Market in the video (and another on the Little Rock side of the river), the prospect of being able to get, at least, greenhouse greens during the winter brings optimism. Even if it might be a bit more expensive. Check out the resources below. I'll continue to build on this list, because (I believe) it's the way of the future, because it includes not only produce, but fruits, meats, and more.
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