Wal-Mart to spend $400 million on local produce in 2008 - by Amy Westervelt
In early July Wal-Mart released a statement emphasizing its local purchasing practices and outlining its intention to increase purchases of local produce to total $400 million by the end of 2008. Local producers voiced support for the initiative and the store's sales and stock price rose, but corporate watchdog Wal-Mart Watch publicized two public opinion polls in which the retailer faired poorly, due to local experiences with economic and labor issues.