Date:
September 13, 2011
Kim Matthews, an Arkansas farmer who supplies Walmart and Sam's Club with sweet potatoes, owns Matthews Ridgeview Farms. She and her family have grown their business over the years by working with Walmart. Today Kim also owns Delta Blue Farms, a 900-acre co-op of 12 sweet potato farmers in Phillips County, Ark., eight of whom are minority farmers. In addition to the 12 farmers, Delta Blues Farms also employs 25 - 40 people year round, adding jobs to the local economy. <br><br>Through Delta Blue Farms, Kim has assisted the farmers in getting their produce Euro/Global-GAP Food Safety Certified and in selling their products to Walmart and Sam's Club. Kim has also been very involved in the local community and donated to food shelters and local churches. Currently, Kim is working with the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff to add more growers to the Delta Blues co-op. <br><br>To find out how Walmart supports women's economic empowerment around the world, <a class="" title="Link: null" href="/global-responsibility/womens-economic-empowerment/">click here</a>.