Chipotle Increases Local Produce Purchases.

DENVER (May 19, 2009) Chipotle Mexican Grill said Monday it would increase the amount of locally grown produce it uses by 10 percent this summer as it expands its Food with Integrity program.

Chipotle plans to purchase at least 35 percent of at least one bulk produce item in all of its restaurants from local farmers when the item is seasonally available, the company said. Last summer Chipotle sought to buy at least 25 percent of produce from local farmers and growers.

Chipotle said it expects to have more than 25 local farms in its network to supply romaine lettuce, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, red onions and/or oregano to its more than 860 units nationwide.

Chipotle also serves mostly natural, hormone-free meat from humanely raised animals. In addition, 35 percent of all of its beans are grown organically grown and all of its cheese and sour cream is made with milk from cows that are never given the synthetic hormone rBGH.

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