GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — What do apples, baby food, coffee, desserts, eggs, fruit snacks, granola, hair products, ice cream, juice, kielbasa, lemon cake, milk, noodles, oatmeal, peaches, queso dip, ravioli, sugar beets, Trout Chardonnay, vitamins, woodpecker cakes, X-strength pain relievers, yogurt, and zucchini have in common with Michigan’s economy? Plenty! This A-Z grocery list represents products grown and produced in Michigan towns like Acme and Zeeland, and nearly all points in between. More to the point, buying local Michigan made products is a simple – and healthy – way to boost the state’s economy.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090708/CL43441LOGO )
In fact, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, if each family in Michigan started spending $10 per week of their grocery bill on Michigan products, we would keep more than $37 million in Michigan, EACH WEEK.
To pay tribute to Michigan farmers and businesses and help residents identify Michigan made products, Grand Rapids-based Spartan Stores is launching its MICHIGAN’s BEST statewide campaign in its 99 Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, Felpausch, Glen’s, Glen’s Fresh Marketplace, and VG’s throughout Michigan on July 5, 2009. Spartan Stores carry over 2400 products grown and produced in Michigan. The products will be identified in all corporate owned stores with the MICHIGAN’s BEST logo. In store specials, signage, and easy to fix recipes also will encourage shoppers to consider purchasing Michigan made products.
While the attached list of 2400+ products and 42 businesses and farms is impressive, what is most notable is the impact buying local has on our economy. Just consider:
- Buying local helps keep Michigan residents employed. It also benefits communities by boosting the local and state economy.
- Buying local products creates more jobs. Nationally, small businesses are our largest employer.
- Local fruits and vegetables are picked within days or hours of being on the shelf, and are loaded with fresh flavor.
- Local products have lower food miles, meaning they are shipped shorter distances, which requires less gas and is better for the environment.
“Buying local isn’t something that requires a great deal of effort,” notes
Alan Hartline, Executive Vice President Merchandising and Marketing for Spartan Stores. “We are pleased to be able to offer products from over forty companies and farms that grow and produce Michigan products. Shopping for breakfast? Consider a Kellogg cereal, Spartan milk, fresh locally grown fruit, Eggland’s eggs,
Bob Evans patties, Old Orchard or Indian Summer juice, Biggby Coffee, or Ludwick’s Sour Cream doughnuts, and Spartan Brand products like milk, eggs, and apple juice, just to name a few options.
“Hungry for lunch? Fire up a Koegel Vienna with Heinz condiments and Lay’s potato chips, or try a salad with local fruits, vegetables, and several choices of dressings. Dinner … Spartan stores offers chicken, beef, pastas all produced in Michigan, along with a number of beers, wine, juice, milk and soft drink choices. Michigan made dessert options are plentiful, whether opting for dairy items like Hudsonville ice cream or cakes, cookies, or other sweet options. With Gerber’s full line of products for infants and toddlers and Top Care’s extensive health and beauty aids, it is easy and economical to buy local products.”
Sen.
Mark C. Jansen from Michigan‘s 28th District noted: “I wish more corporations in the State of Michigan would be as conscientious as Spartan Stores. They are helping Michigan families while at the same time supporting one of largest industries in the State of Michigan, agriculture, as well as being a major job provider all across Michigan. Their holistic approach should be commended. My hope is that the MICHIGAN‘s BEST program initiated by Spartan Stores will catch on throughout Michigan as we continue to work toward economic recovery.”
The MICHIGAN’s BEST campaign will be an ongoing in all Spartan Stores 99 corporate owned stores.
For a complete list of store locations, visit online at:
Family Fare Supermarket/Quick Stop www.familyfaresupermarkets.com
D&W Fresh Market Supermarket/Quick Stop www.dwfreshmarket.com
Felpausch Supermarket/Quick Stop www.felpausch.com
Glen’s Markets Supermarket/Quick Stop www.glensmarket.com
Glen’s Fresh Marketplace Supermarket/Quick Stop www.glensfreshmarketplace.com
VG’s www.vgsfood.com
About Spartan Stores …
Spartan Stores is the nation’s tenth largest grocery distributor headquartered in Byron Center, Michigan. The corporation owns and operates 99 retail supermarkets throughout Michigan and Northern Indiana under the corporate banners of D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, Felpausch Food Centers, Glen’s Markets, Glen’s Fresh Marketplace, and VG’s. Spartan Stores also distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to nearly 400 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
Michigan Companies and their Grown or Produced Products
Absopure Water
Arcadia Beers
Aunt Millie's Bread
Bel Lago Wines
Bell's Beer
Better Made Potato Chips
Biggby Coffee
Chiquita Smoothies
Cole's Frozen Garlic Bread
Comstock Pie Fillings
Country Fresh Dairy Products
Eggland's Eggs
Faulker Farms
Faygo Soft Drinks
Gerber Baby Foods
Gold Coast Farms
Heinz Vinegars
Hudsonville Ice Cream
Indian Summer Juice
Kar's Snack Bars
Keebler Snacks
Kellogg's Pop-tarts
Lay's Potato Chips
Lighthouse Dressings
Maat Produce
Minute Maid Orange Juice
Mussleman's Applesauces
New Holland Beers
Numerous Top Care Products
Old Orchard Juice
Pioneer Sugar
Post Honey Bunches of Oats
Rothbury Farms Croutons
Sara Lee Bread
Select Kelloggs' Cereals
Select Post Cereals
Spartan products
Speich Farms
Vlasic Pickles
Welch's Juices and Jellies
Win Schuler Cheese
Woolite Deep Cleaners
Yoplait Yogurt
www.spartanstores.com
SOURCE Spartan Stores
