Buying local in Tennessee has never been easier. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Pick Tennessee Products initiative has been connecting consumers with local producers for more than 30 years, and it’s about to get bigger and better.
“Pick Tennessee Products is a well-established program with more than 2,800 Tennessee producers,” says Andy Holt, assistant commissioner for business development for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
“Our goal is to have consumers recognize the program’s logo and know that the product featuring that logo is local and high-quality,” he adds. “We’ve recently hired a new director for program, and we intend to grow the program, engaging our producers and consumers at an even higher level.”
See more: Pick Tennessee Products Celebrates 30 Years
Consumers who want to buy local can visit the website or download the mobile app and search for products by county or region. The program’s products includes everything from pumpkin patches to pick-your-own strawberries, meats, honey, handmade soaps, cheeses, craft beers, ice cream, vegetables, wineries and much more.
Bringing Farmers and Customers Together
“Pick Tennessee Products is a value-added program for Tennessee’s agricultural producers. Producers are connected to a wide variety of resources and the exclusive use of the Pick Tennessee Products brand to market their products,” says Sarah Emery, new director of the program.
“Pick Tennessee Products helps consumers identify local products they can use, which in turn bolsters local economies across the state’s 95 counties,” she continues. “I am excited to continue to build this program and witness all the growth to come.”
In 2023, the program had the opportunity to open a store and sell local products at the Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair.
See more: The Wilson County Fair – Tennessee State Fair Delivers Family-Friendly Fun
“We had 65 vendors supply the store, and total sales exceeded $63,000 during the 10 days of the fair,” Holt says. “We are now thinking about setting up a Pick Tennessee Products store at CMA Fest, the Nashville airport and a mobile sales opportunity to serve county fairs across the state.”
Are you a Tennessee producer interested in joining? Or are you someone who would like to buy Tennessee products? Visit picktnproducts.org for application information or to search for products by county or region. You can also download the program’s app.
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