Now this is pretty cool. One of the largest grocery chains east of the Mississippi is embracing local, organic food at a whole new level. Wegmans, which boasts 71 stores (mostly in New York state but also in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia), has a 50-acre experimental organic farm from which it sources heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans.

"How could we ask our growers to go off in this direction [organic] without us knowing how to do it?" Danny Wegman asked.

Wegman says its stores supply local food from more than 800 suppliers, but not many of them grow organically. He hopes some of his suppliers will transition at least part of their land to organic since this is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. food industry (though, he admits it's slowed a bit with the economic downturn).

But the farm has other missions aside from providing organic food to surrounding communities. It will serve as an educational center for its employees and suppliers, as well as kids, to learn about the source of "real food."

The farm may still be in a "blueprint stage," but it has big plans. New beehives have been added to boost honey production; fruit trees and asparagus were recently planted for future harvests; chickens will forage in harvested fields to help control weeds and pests; a new pond will irrigate fields; and greenhouses may be added in the future to extend the growing season.

Source: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

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