Agriculture and Seafood
We are purchasing more produce from local farmers and purchasing products that are grown and produced by people who use sustainable practices in their business. Our goal at Walmart is to have a long-term supply of reliable agricultural and seafood products harvested in a sustainable way.  Locally Grown Produce  MSC certified fish Goals - Purchase all wild-caught fresh and frozen fish for the U.S. from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries by 2011.
- Work with Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and Aquaculture Certification Council, Inc. (ACC) to certify that all foreign shrimp suppliers adhere to Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) standards in the U.S. by 2011.
Objectives and Actions - Locally Grown. In 2008, we expanded our locally-grown initiative, to provide high-quality, low-priced fruits and vegetables, while supporting hundreds of farmers and their local economies. By reducing the number of miles food travels between the farm and our shelves, we can:
- Decrease greenhouse gas emissions and conserve fuel.
- Read more about our Locally Grown Initiative.
- Packaging Innovation. In 2008, we began selling case-less milk at U.S. Sam’s Club facilities. The case-less milk jug:
- is square and virtually self-stacking, which eliminates racks, extra transportation to pick up the racks and water to clean the racks.
- ships more efficiently allowing 9 percent more product on a truck. By reducing the number of trucks we have on the road, we reduce our emissions and fuel use. The new case-less jug also costs about 10 to 20 cents less – savings that we can pass along to our members.
- Read more and download pictures of our case-less milk jug.
- Certified Products. More socially- and environmentally-responsible products are being stocked on our shelves.
- Coffee. We carry 8 coffees under our exclusive Sam’s Choice brand that are either Organic Certified, Fair Trade Certified or Rainforest Alliance Certified, and we also carry two Member's Mark coffees at Sam's Club that are Fair Trade Certified. Customers and Members get gourmet coffee at a great value while farmers, their communities and the environment all benefit.
- Wine. Sam’s Club was one of the first retailers to offer Fair Trade Certified wine – since November 2008, Sam’s Club members have been able to purchase Fair Trade Certified Malbec wine from Argentina in more than 400 Sam’s Club facilities. Read more about our Fair Trade Certified wine.
- Bananas. Sam's Club became the first mass-market retailer and membership warehouse club to offer Fair Trade Certified Bananas.
- More Sustainable Seafood. We are collaborating with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and the Alaskan salmon industry for wild caught seafood and with Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) for all farmed seafood.
- Together, we are encouraging our seafood suppliers to strengthen fishery management practices, rebuild stocks, reduce environmental impacts and support broader marine ecosystem management and protection efforts.
- We have 28 products in our stores that carry the MSC certification and are continuing to expand the selections.
- 100 percent of the farmed shrimp products we purchase meet the factory processing criteria established by the ACC, and we are working to expand this certification program to shrimp, catfish, tilapia and salmon farms.
- As of January 31st, 2009, in aggregate, 49 percent of the total pounds of fresh or frozen seafood sold at Walmart US have the MSC or ACC certification with more fisheries undergoing the certification process.
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