Andy’s Market is the local spot for fresh produce, health superfoods, bulk items, and freshly baked bread.
Partnered with dozens of local farmers in the Walla Walla Valley, produce manager Edward Wilkinson is in charge of getting the freshest fruits and vegetables on the shelves of Andys.
Supporting these local farmers with long-term contracts is something that managerial staff at Andy’s take very seriously. They know that if their farmers succeed, their store will as well.
While some might assume that purchasing local produce might be more expensive, it’s actually the opposite! Wilkinson said, “Most other corporate supermarkets in our valley do not buy directly from the farmers. Instead, produce must first be shipped to their warehouses in other parts of the state, then back to our valley. Buying direct saves time, effort, and shipping costs.”
While speaking with Wilkinson, I realized that local produce in our valley is truly a year-round endeavor. Wilkinson remarked that, “our first deliveries of local asparagus and rhubarb begin arriving at the first of April and our last deliveries of apples and pears come out of cold storage and are delivered throughout the winter and well into the next year.”
Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables is a way to support your body’s health.
Here’s a little bit of food science: hormones, which are the messengers for all the complex systems and processes in your body, are supported when we consume fresh produce that is packed with micronutrients and antioxidants.
An antioxidant is a compound that prevents oxidation in the body; fighting free radicals (which can cause cancer) and helping our immune systems do their job. Rich color in produce is a sign of its high antioxidant level.
The more time between harvesting a ripe fruit or veggie and your eating it, the less antioxidants and nutrients are in the fruit or veggie. Local produce has had less time from its picking to your eating it. It’s the best way to pack more antioxidants in your diet because the produce has more nutrients alive in it than produce that has been sitting in a semi-truck for a few days.
Andy’s works hard to support their local farm partners and their loyal customers by providing the freshest produce for the lowest prices.
Andy’s produce is good for your community and for you. [1]
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