09/04/08 Its Idaho Preferred Month

First Lady Lori Otter became a locavore for a day to emphasize her support of Idaho Preferred. CLARK "It was really easy for her to eat all local foods especially this time of year when we have such a great variety of local fruits and vegetables." That's Idaho Preferred's Leah Clark. Governor Butch Otter has declared September as Idaho Preferred Month and Clark says 175 members display that distinctive blue and gold label on their products and promotions in supermarkets and grocery outlets. Clark says many markets will be featuring Idaho grown produce and agricultural products throughout the month of September. The Idaho Preferred label has grown from 80 labeled products just a new years ago to more that double that number today. CLARK "We really worked hard to go out and recruit members and its kind of the other way around now. We have a lot of companies calling us and say how can I qualify? How do I become a member? And that is really I think a testament to what the program can do for them and what it has done to help elevate consumer awareness of local products." Clark says if you want to support the local producers look for the Idaho Preferred label and you'll have no problem being a locavore too, enjoying homegrown Idaho produce, fish, meat and plenty more. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott