Summer is almost upon us, which means lots of grilling, pot lucks, and get togethers with friends. One thing I really love about Summer is all the fresh produce! Did you know that you can get fresh, local produce at your local Walmart stores? YOU TOTALLY CAN!

Walmart now has more locally grown produce and organic beef available as well as fresh breads being baked in store daily.

But, why would you buy locally grown products instead of whatever random foods are in the store?

• Locally grown food is full of flavor. When grown locally, the crops are picked at their peak of ripeness versus being harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to your local retail store. Many times produce at local markets has been picked within 24 hours of your purchase.
• Eating local food is eating seasonally. Even though we wish strawberries were grown year round, the best time to eat them is when they can be purchased directly from a local grower. They are full of flavor and taste better than the ones available in the winter that have traveled thousands of miles and picked before they were ripe.
• Local food has more nutrients. Local food has a shorter time between harvest and your table, and it is less likely that the nutrient value has decreased. Food imported from far-away states and countries is often older, has traveled and sits in distribution centers before it gets to your store.
• Local food supports the local economy. The money that is spent with local farmers and growers all stays close to home and is reinvested with businesses and services in your community.
• Local food benefits the environment. By purchasing locally grown foods you help maintain farmland and green and/or open space in your community.

We LOVE to buy locally grown foods… It’s actually something I look for before I buy other items. 

I stopped in at my local Walmart store the other day to pick out some produce, and found both Green Beans and Potatoes from NC! I was actually pretty excited about this as I had been wanting to try to recreate something that we used to eat in Okinawa. It didn’t seem difficult, so I figured, this was the perfect time.

Here’s what we needed:
4 Potatoes cut into cubes

1 bag of Green Beans

1 Bulb Fresh Garlic, sliced thin

Olive Oil

Adobo Seasoning, Black Pepper, Tuscan Garlic, Italian and Cajun Seasoning. (about 2 Tbsp of each, or to taste)

Here’s how I made it:

Preheat oven to 450F

Put potato cubes into a large bowl, and mix with garlic slices, about 2 tbsp Olive Oil, and 1 Tbsp each seasoning.

Pour into a cookie sheet that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick spray. Spread evenly.

Bake for 10 mins.

Put cleaned Green Beans in the bowl and stir in 1 Tbsp Olive Oil, and remaining seasonings.

Pour over potatoes and mix evenly on cookie sheet.

Bake until potatoes start to brown, and green beans begin to soften a bit… (about 15 mins)

Stir and serve hot!

We served it alongside some grilled pork loin steaks and it was delicious!