Farm to Club Program Launches Friday
ANNAPOLIS (June 23, 2011) – All 10 BJ’s Wholesale Clubs in Maryland will begin offering fresh, Maryland-grown produce starting this Friday. The Farm to Club program, which BJ’s created in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Office, will provide its members with fresh-from-the-farm zucchini, cucumbers, and yellow squash that was grown on three Maryland farms. In the near future, BJ’s intends to include locally grown tomatoes, green peppers, and corn.
"Seventy-eight percent of Marylanders say they want fresh produce that's grown in Maryland, and BJ’s has recognized and begun to address that growing consumer demand,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “I congratulate BJ’s Wholesale Club and the Maryland farmers who have partnered with them for bringing more healthy options into their clubs and for supporting local farmers and the state’s agriculture industry.”
The participating Maryland farms are Arnold Farms, LLC in Chestertown (Kent County); Butler Farms in Marion Station (Somerset County); and Miller Farms in Clinton (Prince George’s County).
BJ’s intends to roll out its Farm to Club program in six other states later this summer.
“As a buyer for BJ’s, I strive to provide quality fresh produce that our Members can be proud to feed to their families and friends, and I’m thrilled that BJ’s Members in Maryland will be able to get the best that this state has to offer,” said Rob Johnson, BJ’s produce buyer. “As someone who has followed produce trends for more than 30 years, I recognize there is a strong desire to buy and serve local produce for a variety of reasons, but what I am most proud about is the fact that it’s also very good for the local community and the people who are growing our food.”