Wegmans, a 71 store supermarket chain based out of Rochester has began to sell produce grown locally at their 50 acre organic farm.  The farm is in it's first year of production and as it sits on land that has been fallow for a number of years, organic certification is not yet complete. As the company awaits certification through Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York - likely to be completed within a few months, the fresh produce they are currently producing is labeled as organically grown and not organic. Wegmans estimates that it will be approximately three years before the organic research farm is fully operational and profitable.   

"Taste, freshness, support for local economy, confidence in knowing where the food comes from are all factors that come into play, as well as cost. It costs less for grocers to transport local food," Bill Greer, communications director for the Food Marketing Institute trade association, told the Star-Gazette.

So what inspired Wegmans to grow locally and organically?

 When it comes to wooing its environmentalist enemies, Wal-Mart just doesn't quit. The company now says its plans to sell only concentrated liquid laundry detergent products in its U.S. Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs. Making the announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative, Wal-Mart president/CEO Lee Scott told attendees the move will save more than 400 million gallons of water, 95 million pounds of plastic and 125 million pounds of cardboard.

The company says its goal is "to be a catalyst for the transformation of the entire liquid laundry detergent category across the retail industry and save vast amounts of natural resources."

NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 25, 2007 -- As part of a new partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project, Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it will measure the energy use and emissions of the entire supply chain of seven product categories, and find ways to increase their energy efficiency.

The announcement came alongside the release of the CDP's fifth annual report [see related story on ClimateBiz.com], a survey of the risks the world's largest companies face from climate change, an analysis of how they are responding to those risks, and an accounting of those companies' emissions.

"This is an important first step toward reaching our goal of removing non-renewable energy from the products Wal-Mart sells," said Wal-Mart executive vice president John Fleming. "This is an opportunity to spur innovation and efficiency throughout our supply chain that will not only help protect the environment but save people money at the same time."

A new online map sets to assist people in finding eco-friendly individuals, businesses, events and organizations around the world.

One can find anything from magazines, to cleaning services to produce companies that identify themselves as green.