Wakefern Food Corp. is accepting applications from local growers to participate in its annual Local Produce Supplier Summit on July 15 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey.
Qualified applicants will be invited to present to Wakefern’s procurement teams, participate in panels and explore retail partnerships across the cooperative’s eight supermarket banners, which include ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Morton Williams and Di Bruno Bros.
Applicants must be headquartered in states where Wakefern operates – New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Selected growers may meet with Wakefern representatives ahead of the July 15 event. Applications opened March 9 through the RangeMe platform and will close in 30 days.
Travis Riepenhoff, group VP of fresh procurement for Wakefern, said the summit is central to how the cooperative builds its local supplier network.
“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,” Riepenhoff said.
“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.”
Past participants credit the summit with producing durable commercial relationships. Hess Brother’s Fruit Co., a Pennsylvania-based apple grower, supplies apples for Wakefern’s private label Bowl & Basket line — a partnership that grew out of the program.
Mattie Leid, head of sales for Hess Brother’s Fruit Co., said alignment on values made the relationship work.
“Wakefern’s cooperative of family-owned 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 high-quality fruit for families across the region,” Leid said.
Growers who attend will also have the opportunity to connect with other suppliers and learn about Wakefern’s procurement process firsthand.
To apply, visit the RangeMe application link at rangeme.com.
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