Where are your fruits and veggies grown?
Michigan is one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation. We can grow almost anything, when we aren't buried by snow. But our grocery stores are stocked full of produce year round. So where does is all come from? Tonight we take a closer look at buying American.
No matter if it's January, or June, if you want bananas, you can buy at your local grocery store.
In fact that's just one of the 500 fresh produce items you can find at Meijer on any given day.
The grocery chain has 196 stores in 5 states and buys more than a billion pounds of produce a year.
Whether it's bok choy or brussell spouts, chances are most of your produce is grown in the U.S.
I spoke with Scott Calandra, one of the chains 6 produce buyers.
Calandra says about 6.5% of Meijer's fresh produce is grown in other countries.
That includes tropical fruits like bananas, kiwi and papayas. Many of those items are grown in tropical countries like Costa Rica. When I visited the store I also saw tomatoes and Watermelon from Mexico. It just makes sense to get warm weather fruits from warmer climates.
But some of the most colorful items come from colder climates.
It surprised me to learn that these peppers and cucumbers from Canada. Our neighbor to the north is increasingly growing greenhouse and hydroponic produce.
A lot of the produce Meijer had in stock when I visited was from Washington State, California and Florida.
Calandra says crop markets can vary year to year, but typically, head lettuce, celery, leaf lettuces, cabbage and greens are always from the United States.
While you can get most produce year round, seasons still play a role in where it comes from.
For example, during the summer Calandra says up to 30% of the produce Meijer sells comes from the 5 states it serves, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
He says while they try to buy local first, quality and price are the two most important factors when it comes to keeping Meijer's produce aisles well stocked.
Now there is a move to buy local. I mean really local. In a previous special report we told you about the huge rise in CSA's or community supported agriculture farms. Click here for more information about CSAs in Northern Michigan. While you're here, let me know what you think about buying local or American produce. Do you go out of your way to do that? Share your thoughts below.
