ALICE IN DAIRYLAND Christine (Lepple) Lindner 63rd Alice in Dairyland New <strong>Grocers</strong> Buy Local Wholesale Catalog makes it Easier than Ever to Choose <strong>Wisconsin</strong> Christine (Lepple) Lindner 63rd Alice in Dairyland Alice in Dairyland Christine (Lepple) Lindner, is <strong>Wisconsin</strong>’s agriculture ambassador. She travels over 40,000 miles each year to spread the word about our agriculture industry. Alice in Dairyland can be reached by writing to <strong>Wisconsin</strong> Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, DATCP Dairyland Program at 608.224.5080 or DATCPAlice@wisconsin.gov. To learn more about <strong>Wisconsin</strong>’s $59 billion agricultural industry visit her travel blog at http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/alice/ or become a friend on facebook (Alice Dairyland), follow on twitter (Alice_Dairyland) or LindkedIn To find Something Special from <strong>Wisconsin</strong> products and/or companies, take a look at the complete directory complete directory found at www.savorwisconsin.com by clicking on "Other Searches." To learn more about the program and how your store can get involved, visit www.somethingspecialwi.com. Today’s shoppers are seeking more information about how their food is grown and produced. <strong>Grocers</strong> are vital in bringing consumers and producers together to share knowledge while meeting the source of their food. Interest in <strong>Wisconsin</strong>’s fresh produce, dairy, and meats is growing. Now you can help consumers choose locally grown and produced products that are Something Special from <strong>Wisconsin</strong> —and it’s never been easier. New Catalog Assists <strong>Grocers</strong> The <strong>Wisconsin</strong> Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), in partnership with the WGA, Thrive, and the Agricultural Innovation Center, have created a new sourcebook: <strong>Grocers</strong> Buy Local Wholesale Catalog. Retailers can use the new catalog to identify over 100 <strong>Wisconsin</strong> wholesale suppliers. This catalog is the first of its kind to assist grocers in bringing <strong>Wisconsin</strong> products to local grocery stores, where consumers make the majority of their purchases. Buying <strong>Wisconsin</strong> products is an investment in our state’s future. I encourage you, the grocer, to offer products that carry the red Something Special from <strong>Wisconsin</strong> (SSfW) logo. Since 1983, this trademark has been given to companies who guarantee that at least half of a product’s ingredients, production, or processing activities are from <strong>Wisconsin</strong>. SSfW is a marketing program of the DATCP. According to new consumer research released by IGD food and grocery analysts, nearly 30 percent of shoppers say they have specifically purchased local food over the last month, up from 15 percent in 2006. National support for local foods has doubled in five years and continues to grow. I visited a grocery store in Madison to hear firsthand from <strong>Wisconsin</strong>ites. I asked why they feel it’s important to buy locally-grown products. Shoppers told me this: knowing the source of their food builds trust and confidence. They appreciate that shopping locally keeps money circulating in the community. The <strong>Grocers</strong> Buy Local Wholesale Catalog, available online and in print, is second in a series of tools developed to assist SSfW member companies and <strong>Wisconsin</strong> retailers find each other. In January 2010, a joint effort between the WGA and SSfW produced the website grocersbuylocal.com. The site was developed to assist producers to find retailers for their products. Get Started with a “Buy Local” Food Program 1. Obtain the Something Special from <strong>Wisconsin</strong> Wholesale Catalog from DATCP (datcpssfw @wi.gov) or the WGA (888-342-5942). Or visit www.something specialwi.com to find <strong>Wisconsin</strong> suppliers. 2. Use the <strong>Grocers</strong> Buy Local Wholesale Catalog as a guide; take an inventory of <strong>Wisconsin</strong> products in your store. If there are missing products, use the catalog to bring in additional local suppliers and products. 3. Let your <strong>Wisconsin</strong> suppliers know you welcome their SSfW pointof-sale materials. Contact SSfW at datcpssfw@wi.gov for help in communicating with members. 4. Join SSfW. By joining, products made in-store can qualify for the program (such as bakery or sausage). Private-label products made in <strong>Wisconsin</strong> for your store also qualify. 5. Kick off your Buy Local Food program with a product sampling event. Alice in Dairyland can attend your event to educate consumers on buying locally-grown and produced products. Contact SSfW or the WGA for more advice on how to organize a successful event. 6. Make it your own with your local suppliers. Every store is unique. Promoting Buy Local Food will set you apart. Encourage Consumers to Take Action with their Food Dollar When consumers purchase SSfW products they are supporting <strong>Wisconsin</strong>’s agriculture, producers, communities, and economy. Visit www.somethingspecial wi.com for the latest <strong>Grocers</strong> Buy Local Wholesale Catalog. 18 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com
2011 Summer WISCONSIN GROCER 19