When you’re in your local grocery store, gas station, hardware store, restaurants, etc. do you ever wonder where the product you’re purchasing was made?  Choose Iowa™ is a program designed to help consumer’s be more aware of the Iowa products available.

There is growing interest statewide and across the nation in local products and this program was developed to help consumers identify Iowa grown, raised, processed or manufactured GOODS. 

One of its main objectives is to emphasize the broad variety of high quality, safe and healthy products that are produced in the state.  The other is to encourage consumers to ask for and seek Iowa grown, raised and processed products when making buying decisions.  

This is a tremendous opportunity to tell the story of agriculture and the important role it plays in Iowa’s economy.  To help consumers recognize where their food, and the products they use, are coming from. 

Choose Iowa™ will also assist retailers in identifying and promoting Iowa products for their customers.   Products will be marked with the Choose Iowaä logo.  To learn more or view a list of participating retailers and products visit www.chooseiowa.com.

Choose Iowa™ promotes the image of Iowa and the value of Iowa products with a state-identity program thatis designed to increase awareness and drive demand for Iowa products.

The Iowa Grocery Industry Association and participating retail stores and Iowa vendors across the statehave partnered with producers and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship through this program to improve access to locally grown and processed products. 

I encourage you to keep an eye out for the Choose Iowa logo and local productsat your local retail store during Choose Iowaä Week, April 7th through April 11th.  We will be holding several press events across the state with the Iowa Grocery Industry Associationto highlight the availability of Iowa products.  Event Details follow here:

Monday, April 7, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
        Hy-Vee Stores, Inc.
        555 S. 51st Street, West Des Moines

Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
        Fareway Stores, Inc.
        4016 Indian Hills Drive, Sioux City

Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
        Fareway Stores, Inc.
        2530 Westwinds Drive, Iowa City

With the rising interest in local products, this is a win-win situation.  Keep an eye out for the Choose Iowa™ logo the next time you go to the store. 

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Bill Northey is a fourth-generation farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa.  He is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture.  His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are expanding opportunities in renewable energy, encouraging conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.

A photo is available upon request.

The Choose Iowa logo is available upon request

 

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