Does Loblaws support the local grower?

"Loblaw's executive Mike Venton says supermarkets face major challenges trying to stock more regionally grown fruits and veggies" is the caption under a photo in a recent article in the Toronto Sun. It looks like an almost evangelistic pose with the sun shining down on Venton and the signage behind him stating "grown close to home". http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/691775

I was in one of their stores just a few days ago - proudly the ad stated grown in Ontario but for goodness sake the product on the shelf was actually from California. And this isn't the first time - it is almost like they like to say they support local yet where does the garlic come from (China); the apples (Chile); the stonefruit (California) - the list goes on and on. And right now there is garlic, stonefruit and peppers from Ontario, Quebec and BC - yet I don't see it on the shelves - or barely.

Please feed me more bull. The major players - and you can just slot any name you want in here - will say they are supporting the local growers. Yet why does the ad say Ontario and the actual product on self is from California.  That really gets me - the signage, the advertising the product offer is not right.

It might be because it is a lot of hot air. Do you ever notice that it is the retailer that always states they are supporting the local grower but you will be hard pressed to find a local grower who will say that they are strongly supported by a local chain.

In one of their Montreal stores Loblaws was promoting Wild Blueberries at 3/$5.00 - amazing value for the consumer but what does it do for their bottom line and is the grower being supported. And note - these are WILD blueberries that normally are double or triple the price of the high bush or cultivated berries. Someone is losing money here. And you can bet it isn't Loblaws.