In the collateral consequences file Wal Mart announced that it will be trying to buy more local produce. According to the AP:
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to purchase and sell $400 million worth of produce grown by local farmers within its state stores this year, an effort the company says will only grow.
They are doing this in an effort to cut transportation costs. They consider anything ‘locally grown’ if it comes from the same state that the store is located in. I don’t hit the food section of the Guilford Drive Wal-Mart regularly (actually I can’t recall the last time I was there) but it would be interesting to see if they have any local produce. If anyone knows, please post. I don’t think, however, that this will have much of an impact on farmer’s markets.