With demand for locally sourced produce on the rise, Lipman Family Farms is advancing its commitment to family-operated farms through the Lipman Local program.
Partnering with small- to medium-sized growers nationwide, the program has continued to evolve over the last decade by expanding acreage, increasing supply, and testing innovation tools for data collection to ensure high-quality, local produce is available year-round.
A win-win partnership, the program provides local growers fair return on their crop and meets consumer demand for produce picked at the peak of freshness with reduced environmental impact. Lipman’s vast national distribution network enables local growers to sustainably reach communities, reduce food waste, and minimize cross-country shipping impacts.
“Overseeing the grow of our fresh produce supply chain is at the heart of what we do at Lipman, which is enhanced through our Lipman Local program,” said David Ackers, manager of procurement and Lipman Local. “We’ve had the privilege over the last decade of developing strong, lasting relationships with local farmers who have become like family. As we grow together, we are proud to service more communities sustainably, expand our acreage, and continue to bring fresh produce to our customers nationwide.”
The success of the program is exemplified in New Jersey and North Carolina where local farmers are increasing supply to provide for more consumers in peak local growing season. As part of the Lipman Local program, New Jersey squash production is currently in full swing and ahead of schedule. Lipman’s network in North Carolina is the largest grower of cucumbers, peppers, and squash in the state, where production is gearing up to kick off summer harvest.
The Lipman Local program provides the tools to amplify local growing operations through sales and marketing, and education on input costs and quality control, food safety management, and tech-forward traceability practices. Lipman is currently developing new data collection tools to better predict harvest yields, which will be explored at the local level to help better track return.
For more information on the Lipman Local program, visit lipmanfamilyfarms.com/local.
