Kings Food Markets Launches 'Local Fresh 24/7'

PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kings Food Markets (Kings) builds on its tradition of bringing customers the freshest, highest-quality ingredients with the launch of its exclusive 'Local Fresh 24/7' program.  The Local Fresh 24/7 program allows Kings to offer customers the benefits of a local farmstand in the convenience of their neighborhood food market by making locally grown, farm-fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs available to customers within 24 hours of harvest – all within the aisles of its stores.

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"At Kings Food Markets, we share the love of food with our customers, and it is important to us that we continually find ways in which we can bring them the very best selection of ingredients," said Judy Spires, president and CEO of Kings Food Markets.  "Time is of the essence when it comes to the taste and nutritional value of produce, which is why Local Fresh 24/7 is so important.  Not only are we able to support our local and regional farmers, but also, this program allows us to provide our customers with the healthiest, most delicious fruits, vegetables and herbs possible."

Through Local Fresh 24/7, Kings works with a network of small and mid-sized, regional farmers to deliver all featured products fresh to its stores within 24 hours of harvest.  Local farmers supplying Local Fresh 24/7 harvest only the freshest, seasonal products in the morning, and through an expedited distribution process, they are delivered to Kings' stores and prepared for sale the next day.  Once these products have been available for a single day, any items not sold will be removed from Local Fresh 24/7 displays and integrated into Kings' general selection of produce.  This program is unique to Kings and was developed in partnership with Massachusetts-based Red Tomato, a non-profit committed to better connecting farmers and consumers.

"The logistics of Local Fresh 24/7 are unbelievably heroic," said Paul Kneeland, vice president of produce and floral for Kings Food Markets.  "From the dedicated New Jersey growers who carefully tend and harvest these crops, to the distribution teams and Red Tomato staff who ensure delivery to the stores, to the amazing commitment of the entire Kings organization, this is an unprecedented effort to both support the local farmer and bring the absolute freshest, best produce to the supermarket shopper."

With Local Fresh 24/7's emphasis on selecting only the freshest produce, products available through the program will vary daily, but customers can expect to find such summer staples as heirloom tomatoes, corn, squash, cilantro, lettuce, parsley, mint, radishes, spinach and more, frequently throughout the summer. For the latest updates on which items are available through Local Fresh 24/7, customers can visit Kings' redesigned website (www.kingsfoodmarkets.com), subscribe to customer emails, follow Kings on Twitter (@KingsFoodMkts) or like Kings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingsfoodmarkets).  The Kings website will also expand this summer to not only include updates on the Local Fresh 24/7 program but all of Kings' farm fresh initiatives.

"At Kings, we want customers to be inspired every time they walk into one of our stores or interact with us online," added Spires. "Providing access to some of the finest ingredients possible is a large part of that effort, and the Local Fresh 24/7 program is just one of the latest ways in which we're able to inspire our customers."

About Kings Food Markets
For more than 75 years, Kings Food Markets has provided North and Central New Jersey and Long Island, New York with the highest quality foods paired with unique shopping experiences. Kings is based in Parsippany, NJ, with 24 stores serving the region. For more information, visit www.kingsfoodmarkets.com. Shoppers can also find Kings on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kingsfoodmarkets) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/kingsfoodmkts).

Red Tomato: Fresh Produce. Fresh Thinking.

A non-profit organization founded in 1996, Plainville, MA-based Red Tomato works with a network of Northeast fruit and vegetable farms to bring farm-fresh, local produce to consumers throughout the region.  Their mission is to connect farmers and consumers through marketing, trade, and education, and through a passionate belief that a family-farm, locally-based, ecological, fair trade food system is the way to a better tomato. Visit them on the web at www.redtomato.org.

Contact:
Kristin Hummel, Tierney
215-790-4343
[email protected]

SOURCE Kings Food Markets