For the first time, a major food chain in Saskatchewan is offering locally grown vegetables year round.

Mike Furi is the produce procurement manager with Federated Co-ops. He says a major greenhouse grower in Alberta has agreed to supply some locally grown vegetables all winter to Co-op Food stores across Saskatchewan.

Furi says consumers are the winners because the food is fresher.

He says these products are usually imported from Europe or Mexico from November to the end of February but being supplied locally cuts the transportation time in half.

The locally grown vegetables include long English cucumbers and mini cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes and tomatoes on the vine.