DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowans to take advantage of Choose Iowa™, a promotional program designed to enhance consumer awareness of Iowa products.  The event was held at Fareway Stores in Iowa City to unveil signs that will be in retail outlets across the state to identify products grown, raised, processed or manufactured in Iowa. 

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is partnering with the Iowa Grocery Industry Association on the program. 

“I’m very excited about this partnership and the potential of the Choose Iowa™ program to help customers find and buy Iowa products,” said Northey.  “We’re seeing an increased interest statewide in Iowa products and this is a great opportunity to showcase Iowa agriculture.”

Choose Iowa™ will help consumers identify Iowa grown, raised, processed or manufactured goods.  The program also assists retailers in identifying and promoting Iowa products for their customers by marking them with the Choose Iowaä logo. 

“Fareway Stores is very excited to have the opportunity to get involved with an initiative that will bring more awareness to products that originate from Iowa.  We have recognized the consumers’ desires for local products, and we are happy to support and be active in raising consumer awareness for them,” said Fred Greiner, Fareway Stores COO and President.

“There can be no better way to promote how outstanding the food industry is in the state of Iowa than by urging Iowans to buy what is harvested right here at home,” said Jerry Fleagle, president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association. “We were thrilled when Secretary Northey and the Iowa Department of Agriculture offered this partnership opportunity and we feel everyone will be able to benefit from the product awareness Choose Iowa™ will offer.”

There are just under two hundred products registered at this time.  To view the current list of registered products and participating retailers visit www.chooseiowa.com.

“Choose Iowa will not only grow the Iowa economy, but it will emphasize the broad variety of high quality, safe and healthy products that are produced in the state,” Northey added.  “I encourage producers, retailers and customers to visit the website and find out more about the many Iowa products available.”     

Choose Iowa™ promotes the image of Iowa and the value of Iowa products with a state-identity program that increases awareness and demand for Iowa products.

Other events promoting the launch of Choose Iowa™ were also held on Monday, at the Hy-Vee off Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines, and Tuesday, April 8, at Fareway Stores in Sioux City.

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About Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey
Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are the opportunities in renewable energy, conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.

Photo Attached:  Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey; Fred Greiner, Fareway Stores COO and President; and Jerry Fleagle, Iowa Grocery Industry Association President
More photographs available upon request.

 

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