Indiana Grown is an all-inclusive collaborative initiative designed to promote Indiana produced agricultural products to Indiana residents, restaurants, grocery stores, farmer’s markets, wholesalers, processors and other retail businesses. Indiana is home to nearly 60,000 farms spanning 15 million acres growing more than 30 different fruits and vegetables, including corn and soybeans. Meanwhile, i
n the tenth-largest farm state of the U.S., in a country that prides itself on “feeding the world” — Indiana does not even feed itself. Hoosiers spend $16 billion per year buying food, $14.5 billion of which is sourced outside of the state. Indiana imports an estimated 90% of its food, so it is not unusual for a meal in Indiana to travel 1500 miles or more to reach the consumer, which may have an effect on nutritional value and taste. Consumers are faced with challenges every day, but their choice of food should not be one of those challenges. An enhanced Indiana Grown program will increase economic activity through the sale of Indiana products, and consumers will more fully understand how their choice to purchase foods from Indiana farms will positively impact their local economy. Indiana’s strong agricultural heritage will be preserved and thrive with the enhancement of the Indiana Grown program, which will promote nutritious locally grown foods, local employment opportunities, and economic growth, while building sustainable communities.
