TONYA MOSLEY

 SEATTLE - Each week, Jay Babbitt drives over 200 miles from Orondo to Seattle to sell apples and pears at Pike Place Market. “The relationship with the customer is what we’re about.”

He’s been forging relationships for 25 years as part of Martin’s Family Orchard. What would he do if Walmart came knocking at his door?

“We’re more a niche market, you know, serving the local community. We’re not able to service a giant like Walmart,” he said.

America’s largest retailer wants small and medium-sized farmers like Babbitt to at least think about it. By 2015, it plans to double the amount of locally grown produce offerings to nine percent, with local being defined as statewide.

Yakima-area farmer Joe Ramirez says providing for Walmart would be a dream come true.

“That could mean good things for us, especially if they start ordering from us. If we could get in there, that would be awesome,” said Ramirez.

Walmart admits this process won’t be easy because part of the lure of local is the idea of keeping things small. Walmart says it will spend the next five years studying how to best fit into the current model.

“I don’t think they have the flavor that we do -- the sweet, local, crisp flavor,” said Babbitt.

Babbitt looks forward to the next 25 years right here at Pike Place. 

Ramirez looks forward to the possibilities.

“That’s the only thing that we want to do is grow and get more out there and get our name and produce out there for everybody,” said Ramirez.