If you had any doubt that the sustainability of our food production system is a mainstream issue, several recent decisions from big box retailers suggest that consumers are beginning to care about the source of their food.
Both Target and Walmart have announced purchasing decisions demonstrating that the corporations are committed to selling sustainable grocery items -- or at least marketing that fact.
Target announced on Tuesday that it would step selling farm-raised salmon -- the decision includes both Target-owned brands Archer Farms and Market Pantry as well as name brands. By the end of 2010, all salmon will be wild-caught Alaskan salmon. Target made this choice in consultation with the Monterey Bay Aquarium
"Target's decision to source sustainable wild-caught salmon, instead ofThis comes in the wake of Walmart's Locally Grown campaign. Fast Company notes that the move towards local producers has been a source of cost savings for Walmart:farmed, will have a real impact in the marketplace -- and ultimately, on the health of our oceans," said Julie Packard, executive director of the California Aquarium, in Target's press release.
Walmart buys over 12 million pounds of peaches from 18 different states -- a change that has saved 672,000 food miles and 112,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The total freight and gasoline savings combined equalWhether you view these as marketing decisions or a commitment to sustainability is an argument for another time. The point is that the sheer purchasing power of these companies means that their practices make a difference. And it shows how what's important to individual consumers can still drive the decisions of large companies and have a global impact.more than $1.4 million. And that's just for peaches.
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Here's a great related article on how Conscious Capitalism can be a force for changing the world for the good: http://community.maddockdougla...
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