Kansas-made agricultural products and food items were on display at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka Tuesday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the state's agricultural trademark program, From the Land of Kansas.
Program marketing manager Janelle Dobbins says the program helps promote businesses that grow, raise or produce agriculture-based products in Kansas.
"They may be everything from a company that makes agriculture equipment to someone who makes jams and jellies," Dobbins says. "We are really trying to help them learn how to market and tell that great story."
About 375 businesses across the state are involved in the From the Land of Kansas program. Dobbins says the companies receive business development tools, marketing assistance and social media tips so they can reach customers in Kansas and worldwide.
The state trademark provides a consistent way to identify Kansas' agriculture-based products.
"Consumers nowadays want to be very tied in to their product, and they want to understand where it’s coming from and they like hearing a story," Dobbins says.
The program also supports restaurants and retailers that use and sell Kansas products and ingredients.
The state is a leader in wheat, grain sorghum and beef production. An economic impact report from the Kansas Department of Agriculture says agriculture, food, and food processing supports 246,877 jobs statewide, or 13 percent of the entire workforce in Kansas. Agricultural industries provide a total economic contribution of approximately $67.5 billion, roughly 45 percent of the total state economy.
Gov. Sam Brownback proclaimed January as From the Land of Kansas Month.
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