As food safety concerns involving produce continue to draw attention across the country, Prairieland Market in Salina is emphasizing its reliance on locally and regionally sourced fruits and vegetables.

Vicki Spicer told Salina311 that Prairieland works to obtain produce from local farmers whenever possible, with additional products coming from regional suppliers when certain crops are unavailable locally.

“We get what we can from local farmers,” Spicer said.

Some produce is seasonal. Spicer said lettuce, for example, is not widely available from local growers right now.

To maintain its selection, Prairieland receives lettuce, kale and other vegetables from Beachy’s Produce in St. John, Kansas. Spicer said those products are grown hydroponically, allowing them to be available throughout the year.

The market also receives fruit and other produce from Liberty Fruit Company in the Kansas City area.

Spicer said the goal is to keep Prairieland’s food supply as close to home as possible rather than sourcing produce through distant national supply chains.

Prairieland’s growers use organic farming methods, according to Spicer, and the market has continued to see strong demand for locally and regionally sourced food.

That demand has also created supply challenges.

“Everybody is coming to us and we are running out,” Spicer said, adding that similar shortages are affecting other stores.

Spicer said orders placed through Liberty Fruit have sometimes arrived with fewer than half of the requested products because the regional distributor is also experiencing limited availability.

Despite those shortages, Spicer said Prairieland continues to have produce available, including plenty of jalapeños.

She also said none of the produce sold through Prairieland has been included in the recalls she is aware of.

The comments come as produce safety concerns elsewhere in the United States have increased attention on where food is grown, how far it travels and how it reaches store shelves.

For Prairieland Market, Spicer said the approach remains centered on obtaining food from local farmers first and regional producers when local crops are unavailable, keeping the market’s produce supply tied closely to Kansas and the surrounding region.