Local Produce
Here at W.R. Vernon Produce we have been supporting local family farms since we opened the doors. That is how we got our start. It is more than simply supporting a local farmer because they are local. It is and always has been the right thing to do. Most customers like to know where their food comes from and who is producing it.
Why Buy Local?
Think of local food in expanding circles—starting with what you can grow at home, then your neighborhood, your county, your state, and your region. If something isn’t available nearby, choosing products made in the U.S. is the next best step. “Local” simply means as close to home as possible.
Supporting local food isn’t just about freshness—it’s about sustainability at every stage, from how food is grown to how it reaches your table. By choosing local and seasonal produce, you’re helping build a stronger, more resilient food system.
Here are just a few great reasons to Keep It Local whenever you can.
The Benefits of Buying Local
Protect the Land
Local farmers typically live on and care deeply for their land. Their commitment to responsible land use helps preserve open spaces, maintain rural charm, and slow urban sprawl.
Lower Your Food’s Carbon Footprint
Buying local helps cut down on “food miles”—the distance food travels from farm to plate—reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting a cleaner planet.
Freshness You Can Taste
Local produce is often harvested at peak ripeness and reaches you faster, meaning it’s fresher, more flavorful, and often more nutritious than food shipped from far away.
Support Your Community
Shopping locally keeps money circulating within your community. It strengthens the local economy, supports small farms, and helps create local jobs.
Organics
Over the last 20 years our industry has seen the demand for organic fruits and vegetables increase substantially. In response to this demand W.R. Vernon Produce has worked to align ourselves with top quality organic producers. We have worked with our customers to increase awareness as well as help educate them about organics, thus increasing demand for organic products both in food service and retail environments.
W.R. Vernon is proud of the fact that we are QAI certified to handle organic fruits and vegetables. We have an entire cooler area dedicated to the storage and handling of only organic products. We offer a complete selection of high quality organic produce available in bulk as well as pre-packaged. Year round we are able to offer in excess of approximately 125 seasonal organic items.
These products include but are not limited to leaf items, tomatoes, potatoes, citrus, berries and fresh herbs. During the season, we can often supply our customers with “local organics”, supporting the local farmers and helping them market and deliver their products.
W.R. Vernon Produce will continue to increase our organic offerings. We will strive to forge new relationships with responsible organic farmers in order to meet demand as well as exceed our customers’ expectations for high quality organic produce.