We celebrate fruits and vegetables throughout the seasons, meaning that we want produce at its peak. Peak season picks mean peak freshness and flavor! This is an important distinction when it comes to The DLM Experience with this department, and accomplishing it all comes down to relationships. Just as each and every crop that bears fruit or vegetables is carefully nurtured by its farmers, we seek to nurture relationships that share our quality values.

Our quest sometimes takes us just a short drive away to a local farming friend to find the juiciest local strawberries that late spring has to offer or local sweet corn bursting with flavor in the heat of summer. Other times, it takes us across the country to the orchards of the west coast to find prized comice pears grown in Hood River Valley, Oregon, and premium apples and cherries of Wenatchee, Washington. We are looking for apples and cherries that are larger in size, peaches and pears that are tree-ripened and hand-packed, and farms that are backed by families who value best practices. 

We also take great pride in handling product with care once it comes to us for its final leg in the journey before your table. This extends to properly handling certified organic produce that can also be found in our department. We are proud to be Dayton's first certified organic Produce department, meaning that we undergo voluntary yearly reviews and constant training. This involves properly handling and storing organic produce so that it does not come in contact with non-organic produce, and using traceability best practices. 

Our Definition of Local

Our definition of local is simple—can you get there by lunch and get home by dinner? We like to visit our farmers, see their crops, and build relationships. It's so gratifying then to see these families making deliveries to our stores, like the Eichers. They bring with them a stream of cucumbers, summer squash, candy onions, and plump tomatoes. Our friends at Brickel Creek Organic Farm brighten our day with organic lettuces and fresh herbs. The same can be said of the friendly faces at That Guy's Family Farm, Foxhole Farm, Orion Organics, and more! 

We follow what's happening seasonally with our local farmers, and the benefits are yours to savor! If you can get produce closer to home, it'll be fresher. Take for instance the local sweet corn delivered to us from Ray Brentlinger this time of year. It's picked that morning and delivered to our store before dinner. It doesn't get much better than that.

Fresh Finds

THE SALAD BAR: Cut fresh daily, our Salad Bar is a smorgasbord of fresh fruits and vegetables and is a true work of art each day. Look for a stream of local integrated as it is in season. 

VEGGIE BAR/CUT FRUIT: Our ultimate goal is to simplify eating fresh and healthy food, which is why our veggie butcher has done the slicing and dicing for you with a pre-packaged selection. 

FRESHLY SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE: We fresh-squeeze oranges, resulting in juice with a simple ingredient list—100% oranges. 

FRESHLY GROUND DLM NUT BUTTERS: Natural butters freshly ground on site, including almond, cashew, peanut, and an organic option.