For more than a decade, Associated Retail Operations (ARO) has partnered with local farms to bring fresh produce into its stores, and the program has only grown stronger. With growers like Ogden Bay, McFarland Farms, and Bangerter Farms, the produce team works year-round to keep locally grown fruits and vegetables on shelves.
“We have several growers around us that we support every year,” said Danni Barnhart, ARO produce sales manager. “Every year we partner with them, starting in early spring. You start with the peas and then we go into radishes. Right now, we have local watermelon, local cantaloupe, local corn.”
This emphasis on local has been an intentional focus for over a decade, and Danni says that customers notice and appreciate the difference. “Local produce is right at the top of the guests’ list of things they look for when they shop,” Danni explained. “It’s becoming more important to our shoppers to know where their produce is coming from and to support local vendors.”
Beyond preference, Danni believes there’s something uniquely special about food grown close to home. “One of the greatest things that we do have is our local watermelon, local cantaloupe, and local corn. You can tell when something is grown here, and the quality couldn’t be any better,” she said.
The program also reflects AFS’s broader mission to support communities. “AFS also being a local company, it’s important that we support our communities and take care of our people. I think it’s just a great partnership and everybody coming together in support,” Danni said.
From the farmers who grow it to the customers who buy it, Utah-grown produce is making an impact in stores and communities alike.