New Seasons Expands Green Wheels to All Locations

New Seasons has expanded its Green Wheels eco-delivery program to all 18 locations in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.

The B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery’s electric-assist cargo tricycles and delivery vans replaced individual local vendor deliveries, reducing producers’ time on the road and environmental impact and improving traffic congestion.

The five-store pilot program eliminated 1,105 deliveries in a 12-month test period. From B-Line’s distribution hub, the Green Wheels program aggregates more than 150 local products for delivery to New Seasons’ locations. Producers make one delivery to the distribution hub, eliminating the need to deliver to all 18 New Seasons locations.

“Together with B-Line, we’re making our local products distribution system more efficient, reducing its impact on the environment and helping our local producer partners be more efficient with their resources,” said Chris Tjersland, New Seasons Market partner brands development manager.

The Green Wheels program is the latest way New Seasons helps local food producers. Since 2013, the Local Finds program has introduced more than 200 products to consumers.