Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Kroger presented a $2,000 donation to the United Way of Hood County on April 14 to commemorate Earth Month. The donation was presented during Friday’s celebration naming Granbury High School graduate and florist Jim Berry, middle, as the company’s new floral supplier.
A north Texas florist is returning to his roots with the implementation of Kroger’s Go Fresh & Local supplier accelerator program.
Granbury High School graduate Jim Berry is the owner and president of J. Berry Nursery & Genetics with his son, Jonathan Berry — and was recently the recipient of a huge honor.
Berry’s north Texas nursery was one of five businesses selected from more than 1,600 suppliers who applied to Kroger’s 2022 cohort program to identify fresh, local, and regional brands to be sold in Kroger stores and receive strategic business mentoring.
A celebration honoring Berry’s nursery was held on April 14, complete with complimentary cupcakes and a chance for Kroger shoppers to win great prizes.
“I could not be happier to be here today with Jim and his family,” said Kristen Thompson, director of floral merchandising at Kroger during the celebration. “Jim and I have been on quite the journey over the last year. He joined us as part of a program called Go Fresh & Local, and we're now in our third season. The whole mission is to bring the best local product to our customers so that when you get it in your home, you know that it was grown locally, and it's going to thrive as soon as you plant it or put it in your product.
"Jim trusted the process. He took first place last year in our Go Fresh & Local campaign and it was a star-studded event. He came ready and prepared, and I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of the work that he's done with Kroger and we're just excited to launch this company — and we know that this is just the beginning.”
According to Kroger’s news release, J. Berry Nursery of Grand Saline was founded in 2006 by father and son, Jim and Jonathan Berry. In addition to the finished wholesale nursery business, the company now includes both a new Young Plants and a new Genetics division. All divisions are focused on bringing innovation to the market, and providing infinite possibilities to consumers via superior packaging and marketing of plants that exceed performance expectations — whether grown in containers or a landscape setting. The company’s unique multi-pronged position as a breeder, nursery, and small plant producer, ensures that only top-quality plants join their product offerings.
“Today we are featuring some of our rose production, but primarily our focus at the Kroger Go Fresh program was focused on Hollywood hibiscus,” Jim said. “It has taken me 30 years to develop these genetics. In the grower community, they require less sprays because they are genetically resistant to pathogens and to insects, so they are better for the environment and a lower cost on chemicals. There's a focus on shrub quality, foliage quality, flower quality, and flower count, and then once we saw the opportunity, we had to creatively bring them to market as Hollywood hibiscus.”
Jim added that each color — like Disco Diva, Glamour Gal, Gold Digger, and First Lady — is named after a separate personality.
“We've had some fun in developing the brand protection,” he added.
The event featured remarks from Kroger and J. Berry executives and a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate J. Berry Nursery items being available across the Kroger Family of Companies.
“I want to thank Kristen and the whole Kroger team,” Jim said. “The Kroger Go Fresh & Local event lasted three days in Cincinnati. There were 1,600 applicants to the program, and 15 presenters, and we were in the top five and unbelievably, we were number one. I’ve been in the wholesale nursery industry my whole professional career, so Granbury Nursery exists, largely because I've got a wonderful business partner and our son, Jonathan.”
As part of Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan, the company also presented a $2,000 donation to the United Way of Hood County to commemorate Earth Month.
“The program's long-standing commitment is giving back to our communities that we serve, and last year, Kroger contributed more than $7 million to support hunger relief organizations in and throughout north Texas and east Texas,” said John Votata, director of corporate affairs for the Kroger Dallas Division. “This April is Earth Month and this year throughout the month of April, we're asking customers to join us. When you checkout at the register, please round up your order to the nearest dollar and that money is going to support the World Wildlife Fund to help support our planet as well.
“Another integral organization that locally aligns with our mission to end hunger and waste within our community — and just make our communities a great place — is the United Way of Hood County. To help continue their mission and celebrate Earth Month and the launch of J. Berry Nursery products here in Kroger, we just would like to donate a $2,000 check to assist with your efforts to end hunger and waste within our communities.”
For more information about Kroger’s Go Fresh & Local program, visit thekrogerco.com/gofreshlocal online.
