Utah's Own executive panel.

• Position: Executive Panel - Interview

In order to help everyone understand the impact local food producers have on the state's economy, Utah's Own gathered a group of business owners to discuss the success. challenges and trends they are seeing.

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If nothing else, we learned that Utah producers are passionate about their work. For many, it is about much more than business. For them, it is personal.

The. executives at our panel discuss the benefits they get from bearing the Utah's Own logo, the commeraderie that helps build their brand, and the efforts they are making to spread the word. Please take a moment to learn more about this significant industry. Who knows, these business owners are probably your neighbors.

What is the status of Utah's Own today?

REICH: Right now there is actually pretty strong knowledge of Utah's Own. When I talk to people--neighbors, people in the stores--they understand that Utah's Own products are Utah products. And they understand that it's important to buy Utah products because some of that money stays in the community.

Buying local has become a big movement because people feel like local foods are safer and healthier. That may or may not be the case--but people increasingly want to support local producers. With the economy where it is today, it's more important than ever to get that message out there.

The state has a great team that is working with Utah's Own on marketing. The effort has been incredible. But the state has cut back on its finances, and so it has not been able to give any additional funding to Utah's Own. If the state comes out and does some marketing, they require that whatever money the state puts in, we match it from the retail side. And each of the individual manufacturers kick in, so that that matches it too. So the state is only paying about a third of the marketing costs.

The biggest need we've got is to continue to tell the story. Like any marketing message you put out there, you can't just stop. It just dies. So my hope is to figure out a way to continue funding the program going forward.

DEJOHN: I would like to see more education--through Utah's Own--about the importance of job growth. In my neighborhood, I'm surrounded by more people than ever before who are unemployed--people who have high skill levels--and it's because of businesses shutting down, consumers cutting back.

It's great to have the Utah's Own sticker in the grocery stores, and it's great to have someone on television talking about buying locally, but we need to offer more information to the consumer about the benefit to the whole economy of job growth.

CAMPBELL: Fifteen years ago, the amount of local products available to us at Log Haven was dismal, and we were having to source from California. But in the last 15 years, it's exploded. Amano Chocolate, Creminelli Meats, Lehi Cheddar, Winder products--it's been wonderful to see the growth of these local vendors. And it's key that we have recognition on our menu that those products are from Utah. Sometimes it makes the menu descriptions a little bit long, but it is very important and the consumer is definitely demanding that more and more.

GLAUSER: Lunchboxers is initiating what we are calling a farm-into-school initiative. We offer local corn on the cob, peaches, pears, etc. to the schools and then open up an invitation for the students to visit those farms. This helps educate them on why it's important to eat a vine-ripened tomato or corn on the cob that is grown just down the road.

It comes down to educating the students in our schools while they are young. Consumers, as well, should learn where a product has come from, how it is grown, what it looks like, what it tastes like and what the differences are.

REICH: Our [Associated Foods] stores and Harmons have both negotiated with local farmers and bought their entire fields because we knew their quality. We bought their fields and put up signs that said, "This corn you will see at Maceys or Harmons."

GLAUSER: One of the biggest fears for farmers is the unknown of whether or not they are going to be able to sell their produce. They are scared that if the crop ends up not being purchased, they have wasted their season, their land.

Agriculture is a big deal here in Utah. Whether it's through co-ops or farmers markets or community-supported agriculture programs, we can do a lot to invest in our farmers.

HOUGHTALEN: From the food service side, there is some momentum in terms of the number of companies that come to us wanting to sell their products. And we are getting more operators asking for more locally grown products, not just produce also manufactured foods. But it is still a challenge for these manufacturers to get their stuff to market. It's not quite as easily placed in the forefront like it is on a retail shelf. But I've seen progress made just in the last year.

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SIMMONS: Utah's Own has been so significant for Apple Beer in a lot of different ways. What is wrong with asking us as companies to contribute to the funding crisis that Utah's Own may be facing? Frankly, we've found that Utah's Own has been more beneficial to us than some firms that we have hired and paid considerable amounts of money to. I would feel just fine paying a reasonable membership fee.

One of the great things that Utah's Own brings is relationships with retailers like Associated Food Stores and Log Haven, and distributors like Nicholas and Sysco. Companies pay a great deal for brokers to make those connections.

FREDERIKSON: The future of Utah's Own lies in our youth. The rising generation is going to choose what they are going to buy--especially in a state with as many children as we have. When we put agriculture in the classroom, we train these young people and we have a tremendous future there. Educate. Put a face on Utah's Own and tie it in with other departments of the state, other products in Utah. It's on the verge of exploding and I love it.

Considering where we are right now, what is the future of...