Wakefern Food Corp. is inviting regional farmers to apply to participate in its upcoming Local Produce Supplier Summit, offering growers the opportunity to showcase products and explore retail partnerships with the supermarket cooperative.
Applications opened March 9 through the RangeMe platform and will remain open for 30 days. Selected applicants will be invited to attend the summit July 15 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison.
Wakefern, a retailer-owned cooperative whose member companies operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Morton Williams and Di Bruno Bros. banners, said the event is part of its ongoing effort to strengthen relationships with regional farmers.
The summit will include presentations, panel discussions and meetings with Wakefern procurement teams and member families. The event is designed to help small and mid-size growers connect with buyers and learn more about supplying produce to Wakefern’s network of stores.
“Wakefern’s Local Produce Supplier Summit is a meaningful way to connect with small and mid-size growers and bring their high-quality produce to our stores, and we look forward to hosting our annual event on July 15,” said Travis Riepenhoff, group vice president of fresh procurement for Wakefern. “Like many of the growers we work with, our Wakefern members represent family-owned food businesses that have operated for several generations. We appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into running a family farm, and we want growers to know that we are committed to being farm fresh here and delivering the freshest produce from their farms to our customers’ tables.”
Eligible applicants must be headquartered in states where Wakefern supermarket banners operate, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Selected growers may also have opportunities to meet with Wakefern representatives prior to the summit.
Participants will also be able to connect with other suppliers and learn more about the cooperative’s sourcing process.
Past participants say the summit has helped strengthen partnerships with the cooperative. Hess Brother’s Fruit Company, a Pennsylvania-based family-owned apple grower, supplies apples for Wakefern’s private-label Bowl & Basket brand.
“Wakefern’s cooperative of familyowned supermarkets truly shares our company ethos. It means a lot to work with a retailer that supports local growers and understands the care that goes into producing highquality fruit for families across the region,” said Mattie Leid, head of sales for the company.
Growers interested in participating can apply through the RangeMe application link for the July summit.
