- My name is David Gheed, I work for Lakewinds Food Co-op,
and I'm the category manager for
all three locations' produce departments.
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I'm looking for (sighs) an interesting story.
I'm looking for integrity in product.
I'm looking for a need in the market that needs to be filled
that this particular farmer or producer can meet.
I'm looking for a way to satisfy the needs
of our organization's mission.
(calm, bright music)
We talk to a lot of people that are looking for a market
and often times we're not able to help
because we already have an agreement with another farmer
to supply what, uh, what that new farmer wants to do for us.
And, again, I think identifying the need in the market
and finding a way to meet that need is really
the best step to take in the beginning.
It might require some soul searching,
a little bit of research, maybe even some investment,
but, yeah, that's how you hit a home run.
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Do your research and identify the need in the market,
what's missing, and the ability to look at what's needed
in the market and strategize a way to deliver,
that's really the best way to get into,
uh, get into a new market.
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Yes, that's largely my decision and somewhat
of a collaborative decision between various people
in the organization.
Our produce managers and sometimes higher senior management
have some ideas about what that needs to be,
but the ultimate decision usually falls to me.
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Overall, that's really hard to say.
I'm only really an expert on produce.
We work with dozens, and it varies a little bit
year to year, but I'd say we have five or six major partners
that do tens of thousands of dollars in business
with us every year and many other smaller accounts as well.
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- The crops do, the ones that, the crops that
do the best for local producers are the ones that they do
so well and so consistently that they build a name behind it
and people ask for it by name.
Really it comes down to old fashion branding,
and we have a number of local producers
that do that very well.
I think the Localize basil is one of them.
It's been in the store very consistently
and with very few gaps in availability.
The quality is always outstanding,
the taste is always great.
After years of seeing that logo, customers know
to look for it and that, that just leads to success
for the producer.
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We have a very intelligent and informed customer base.
They shop, they shop with their values in mind
and coming to a place like Lakewinds, it's very much
in the forefront of their mind that they want local,
sustainable food, food that supports a local economy.
They're always excited about it, they know,
they know what's coming down the road each season
and about when to expect it and from where.
It's really and honor and a privilege to serve
that kind of customer base, so, yeah.
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