The "go local" movement, it seems clear, is catching on with consumers across the country. For most merchants, going local has meant sourcing produce from nearby farms but now Weis Markets is taking the next step and buying beef from Angus producers in its home state of Pennsylvania.
Weis introduced its new Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef program at a press event attended by company executives, Pennsylvania's Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff and representatives of the state's beef council and Angus producers.
"Pennsylvania has a vibrant agricultural economy known for its quality. Last year alone, we purchased more than 19 million pounds of produce from local Pennsylvania producers," said Norman Rich, Weis' CEO. "Our Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef is the logical extension of our commitment to buying and selling Pennsylvania's best products. We are proud to be the first supermarket company in the country to offer a local beef program."
Weis' Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef is grain fed and aged a minimum of 20 days. The grocer will offer a full line of roasts, steaks, tenderloins and ground beef in 23 of its 125 stores in Pennsylvania.
Discussion Questions: How successful do you think Weis Markets will be with its Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef program? Will other grocers start to promote the local angle in categories beyond produce? What categories do you think have the greatest potential to build on the "buy local" movement?