Carlisle, PA  In conjunction with Giant Food Stores' ongoing commitment to providing customers with fresh, locally grown products, the grocery chain is encouraging customers to help support local farmers and vendors by buying locally grown. When consumers and retailers purchase products from within their own communities, not only do local companies benefit, but so does the local economy as money and resources stay within that community. In addition, supporting local companies also helps reduce the carbon footprint in the fight against global warming by reducing fuel costs and air emissions to ship products by truck or rail.

"Giant has been a leader in the buy local movement for more than 86 years," said Jeff Beaulieu, vice president of produce, Giant Food Stores. "Now is the perfect time for our customers to find an abundance of locally grown, farm fresh produce from Pennsylvania's neighboring farms."

Customers can find local products in Giant stores throughout the year, but during August and September, customers can enjoy the following locally-grown vegetables* carried by Giant Food Stores:

* Mushrooms, sourced from Modern Mushroom and Buona Foods, Chester County

* Corn, Brian Campbell Farms, Columbia County

* White Potatoes, Sterman Masser, Schuylkill County

* Cabbage and Green Peppers, Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County

* Green Beans, Copenhaver Produce, Lancaster County

* Cucumbers, squash and peppers, Benedict's Produce, Franklin County

* Sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, melons (cantaloupes and watermelons), Oak Grove Farms, Cumberland County

* This list is not exhaustive.

Giant has been a proud participant in the PA Preferred program since it was launched by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in January 2004 to help market state-sourced food products and goods manufactured and processes in the state. Giant works with hundreds of PA Preferred vendor partners include perishable and non perishable products that range from local produce and meats to from BBQ sauce and root beer. In order to help local vendors introduce new products, Giant displays many PA Preferred products on exclusive racks in all of its Pennsylvania stores. Featured products rotate every 120 days, giving smaller producers an opportunity to establish a presence in the marketplace and evaluate reception to their offerings.

Giant received the Leadership Award for Excellence in Agriculture in 2008 in addition to being recognized as PA Preferred "Retailer of the Year." Each year, Giant and PA Preferred, in partnership with the National Minority Supplier Development Council and St. Joseph's University's School of Marketing, hosts a trade fair where local vendors introduce their products to Giant buyers.

Giant also is proud to support buy local programs in other states where they operate including Virginia and Maryland.

Giant Food Stores, LLC, one of the leading supermarket operations in the U.S., currently operates stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia under the names of Giant Food Stores, Martin's Food Markets and Giant To Go. As a company, Giant is proud to work with hundreds of local organizations in the communities it serves and has a long-standing commitment to eradicate hunger and improve the quality of life for children. For more information about Giant Food Stores, visit www.GiantFoodStores.com.

** EDITOR'S NOTE: If interested in speaking with one of the local PA Preferred vendors or would like recipes featuring PA Preferred products, please contact Tracy Pawelski at 717-240-1513.