SISTER BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Walk into Cherry Republic's store in the heart of the nation's biggest tart cherry producing region, and you could end up with jam or salsa with fruit that had to be imported from Poland.
Cherry Republic can't get enough tart cherries from its local orchards because 97 percent of Michigan's crop was destroyed this year by a freak weather pattern. An unseasonably warm March that caused trees to bud was followed by an April freeze that killed the blossoms.
Trees in New York and Wisconsin, which have smaller but still significant tart cherry harvests, suffered the same weather damage.
Prices usually skyrocket when farmers take that kind of a loss, or in severe cases consumers might just have to give up on a fruit for a season. But that won't happen in this case because of some unique factors in the tart cherry industry. As a result, cherry processors are scrambling to get what fruit they can, sometimes from Poland or Turkey, and taking a financial hit in an effort to keep prices low.
Our Meijer stopped the Senior discount & Meal box coupons. They have the mPerks, but you have to have a cell phone with texting to benefit. I guess they do not feel the Seniors or the people who can not afford a cell phone (with texting) need the extra savings. Those who can afford the texting phone, get the savings. Does this seem right to you? I sent an e-mail to Meijer asking about this. I hope those of you who have a Meijer in your area will e-mail them & say it is not fair to give the discounts only to the texting cell phone customers.
www.foodlion.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Food Lion is selling thousands of items at lower prices, revamping its produce section and increasing the variety of products available as part of a www.foodlion.com/Corporate/PressRoom/Press_071812" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">new brand strategy.
The Salisbury-based grocery store chain launched the strategy Wednesday in 269 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina including those in the Triad.
Food Lion is also holding grand re-opening events at all 269 stores, which include giving the first 50 customers at each location a bag of groceries each day through Saturday.
The company also plans to donate $30,000 in store-brand food products to food banks in North Carolina.
The new strategy means customers will see lower prices on 6,000 items throughout the store, according Food Lion. That includes its entire My Essentials store brand.
More than 60 percent of Food Lion's stores, or 700 locations, are operating under the new strategy.
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