Athens County prides itself on locally produced goods, and as the holidays approach, the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s marketing program is encouraging to use that attitude in its gift-giving.
Ohio Proud, a department-sponsored program, “encourages Ohioans to celebrate the holidays by preparing meals and giving gifts featuring products made and grown in Ohio,” according to a news release from the department.
Some of the products include fruits, wines, T-shirts, jewelry and soaps, among others.
“Every dollar spent on Ohio Proud programs goes back to Ohio’s economy,” said Ashley McDonald, spokeswoman for the department.
Ohio Proud partners with companies throughout the state that produce at least 50 percent of their products. There are 500 partners from 80 of Ohio’s 88 counties, McDonald said.
Nine of the partners are from Athens County, including Shagbark Seed & Mill, Purely American and the Herbal Sage Tea Company.
“It's great to be part of the Ohio Proud brand because it raises public awareness of our products, and it helps highlight the social and economic value our products bring to Ohio, in addition to great flavor and nutrition,” said Brandon Jaeger, co-owner of Shagbark Seed & Mill.
Shagbark Seed & Mill has distribution locations on Ohio University’s campus, at the markets and West 82, Jaeger said.
“During the holiday season, (Ohio Proud) partnered with Celebrate Local, (a retail store at Easton Town Center in Columbus),” McDonald said. “We worked with them to do some gift baskets.”
McDonald added that gift baskets would have Ohio Proud’s logo on them to indicate that the product was grown locally.
Celebrate Local, one of Ohio Proud’s partners, physically puts the baskets together and decorates them in time for the holidays, said Heidi Maybruck, co-owner and founder of Celebrate Local.
Maybruck said her company has not only organized baskets of Ohio’s products for state residents, but they have also shipped them nationwide.
By purchasing these products, McDonald and Maybruck said it stimulates Ohio’s economy.
Like Ohio Proud, Celebrate Local helps other organizations by acting as a “small business incubator,” Maybruck said.
They assist more than 250 small businesses in Ohio and hope to expand more in larger cities, such as Cleveland and Cincinnati.
“Buying locally made and locally grown foods generally means getting a fresher product, which offers better nutrition and flavor, and fewer additives and preservatives,” Jaegger said. “Knowing where your food comes from, and who was involved in producing it and bringing it to you creates a less tangible, but very real value.”
@KellyPFisher
