“It’s something that somewhat happened gradually overtime,” David King, an employee of the Indiana Department of Agriculture, said.
Now, with only 10 percent of the $16 billion Hoosiers spend on food each year being used to buy groceries grown or produced in Indiana, the state is taking action.
Last week marked the official launch of the Indiana Department of Agriculture’s new Indiana Grown Initiative.
The program, led by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellsperman, will help Indiana-based producers by connecting them with stores, restaurants and farmers ?markets.
“Basically we’re here to help farmers if they have any questions about technology or any type of issue that maybe they need to know to be better producers,” King said. “We won’t have all the answers, but our goal is to be in a position to put them in touch with whoever they need to talk to to get those answers.”
Anyone who produces or sells any type of food or beverage is welcome to partner with the program. In Bloomington, Indiana Grown partners include Cardinal Spirits, Upland Brewing Company and Growing Opportunities.
“Since we are so new, it can be a challenge to get on the map and to market our products,” Nikki Wooten, the manager of Growing Opportunities, said. “To have an organization like Growing Opportunities come in and help us connect to those bigger outlets is a huge benefit.”
Through the initiative, Wooten was recently given the opportunity to share her farm’s story with Kroger.
“People don’t realize how much time it takes to not only grow the produce, but to market it as well,” Wooten said. “Every little bit of help farmers can get to share our produce helps a whole lot.”
Not only will the new initiative help Indiana farmers connect with retailers, but also with consumers.
Beginning last week, shoppers in Indiana could find Indiana Grown labels on foods in many local grocery stores.
Using the stickers, shoppers can now identify foods that are “100% Indiana,” products grown in Indiana and all ingredients come from Indiana, or “Prepared in Indiana,” products made from ingredients from other places but produced in Indiana alone.
Stores will also be marked as partners that assist in marketing Indiana grown products and members.
“We hope you start seeing it everywhere; that’s our goal,” King said. “We’re doing much greater than we had anticipated at this point in time, and I think that’s just a reflection of how important this program is.”
King said he hopes the program continues to partner with more farms in order to reach more consumers.
“It’s really neat that they’re offering this program for free for farmers,” Wooten said. “For the state department of agriculture to taken an interest in small farmers in this way is really generous and just shows that they’re serious about local food in Indiana.”
