Local Walmart leaders joined representatives from The Little Potato Company today for a special “Farm to Shelf” tour. This showcases Walmart’s dedication to locally grown produce and the people behind it. The event brought together local growers, business stakeholders, and policymakers to highlight the positive impact of locally sourced food on Wisconsin communities.
Walmart is proud to be the largest seller of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. In FY25, the company sourced $1.5 billion in locally grown produce—produce grown and sold within the same state. By prioritizing local suppliers, Walmart strengthens community connections, fosters job creation, and supports economic growth.
“We know quality is the biggest driver when selecting produce, which is why we source as close to the customer as possible, without sacrificing quality,” said Lisa Nelson, Walmart Government Affairs Director. “As we celebrate our local farmers in Wisconsin and across the country, we remain committed to buying the locally grown produce that supports and creates local jobs. It makes sense for our customers, our communities, and our company.”
The Tour
The day began with a tour of the potato fields at Cottonville Farms in Coloma. There the attendees learned about the contributions of local farms. The tour continued to The Little Potato Company’s packaging facility in DeForest and Walmart’s Distribution Center in Tomah. This offered a firsthand look at the supply chain process. The event concluded at the Tomah Walmart Supercenter, illustrating the partnership that ensures customers have access to affordable, healthy, and locally grown foods while supporting regional business growth.
“Everything we’ve done has been built around family,” said Angela Santiago, CEO and Co-Founder of The Little Potato Company. “There’s a wonderful handoff of the potato as it moves through the value chain of going from family to family to family. With it ending with the one that picks it up from the store shelf and brings it home.”
About The Little Potato Company
The Little Potato Company partners with six family farms in Wisconsin, cultivating little potatoes on nearly 3,500 acres in the Central Sands region, an area ideal for potato farming. The company’s DeForest packaging facility, which opened in 2017, is its first U.S. location and employs nearly 180 people. Each week, up to 2.2 million pounds of fresh little potatoes are washed and packaged in DeForest, ready for local stores.
Representatives from the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and local policymakers also participated in the event, discussing the importance of fostering an economic environment that supports business growth and job creation. Wisconsin’s potato growers produced 2.6 billion pounds of potatoes in 2024, ranking the state third in the U.S. and first, east of the Mississippi River, in potato production.
“Locally grown produce is a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s agricultural economy,” said [name], of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. “Events like today’s tour highlight the critical role partnerships play in ensuring fresh, high-quality food reaches our communities while supporting local jobs and businesses.”
Walmart’s commitment to delivering Every Day Low Prices on fresh produce saved customers $1.6 billion in FY25 alone. Fresh produce is available in stores, for pickup, and for delivery to 93% of the U.S. population. By emphasizing locally grown products and American-made goods, Walmart continues to provide exceptional value, support local communities, and empower customers to make informed choices about the food they buy.
Walmart’s focus on quality ensures that products move from farm to shelf in as little as two days in some markets. Through industry-leading supply chain practices and daily fresh produce deliveries, Walmart guarantees customers access to the freshest fruits and vegetables.
Nice article! Years ago my aunt Pauline and uncle Eddie had a potato farm near Wausau. I will never forget when going to see his storage building, and when he opened the door, the smell of fresh potatoes that greeted me.