<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Washington D.C.-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">2.26.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/walmartbanner022613.jpg" alt="images022613" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">At the USDA’s Fruits & Vegetable Luncheon on Feb. 22, Vice President of Produce and Floral for Wal-Mart Stores, Dorn Wenninger said that the retailer’s size and reach mean the company has a responsibility to help local communities and the opportunity to expedite local food and sustainability measures.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The company plans to double its US sales of locally sourced fruits and vegetables by 2015.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In Wenninger’s presentation, CEO Mike Duke was quoted as saying, “Sustainable agriculture is an area where Walmart can make a big difference for local communities, for local economies, and for families all over the world… I think we have a unique responsibility (through sustainable agriculture) because we are the world’s largest grocer. We sell more food than anybody else in the world.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The company will introduce a marketing campaign rolling out in 4 phases, which will highlight local farm families in most states across the nation. The farmers highlighted will be recognized for their hard work and quality products.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Wenninger stated the company intends to open between 275 and 300 stores in urban and rural food deserts by 2016 to increase residents’ access to fresh, healthier foods<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Wal-Mart plans to work with the USDA Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas to find scalable model for supporting underserved farmers and building sustainable agricultural economies. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> “If we work together… we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone. We’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better life.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.walmart.com/ " target="_new">Wal-Mart </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
