Big Y Adds Plants to Local Offerings

As well as the locally grown produce it carries from spring into fall, Big Y now stocks local flowers and plants in all 63 of its stores, which are all located in Massachusetts and Connecticu.

Among the suppliers represented are Cavicchio Greenhouses, in Sudbury, Mass., which grows such perennials as phlox, dianthus, guara, dicentra and salvia; annuals that include petunias, marigolds, verbena and coleus; and herbs like rosemary, oregano, sage and thyme. Casertano Greenhouses & Farms, in Cheshire, Conn., is providing 10-inch flowering baskets of New Guinea impatiens, fuchsia, geraniums and petunias. Strawberry flats are also in stock.

"We are excited to be able to expand our local offerings once again and to be able to support even more local growers from our region with these locally grown garden-center plants," said Big Y EVP Michael D'Amour. "We know that our customers appreciate being able to buy local at their local Big Y."

In years past, the Springfield, Mass.-based grocer purchased almost 5 million pounds of local produce from farmers throughout the area, but this year it says it’s set to exceed that amount as more farmers join the produce program.

Family-owned and –operated Big Y, one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, has more than 10,000 employees.