By Clint Thompson
Sweet Grown Alabama continues to be an effective tool in connecting retailers and consumers to locally grown produce. Even though the program is still in a growing stage, it is becoming widely recognized across the state.
Aisling Walding, assistant director of Sweet Grown Alabama, talked about the program’s growth and its spike in popularity.
“We are still such a young program that it has blown us away at the amount of people that recognize that logo now,” Walding said. “When they see it, they’re like, ‘Okay yes, I have seen this before. I know it’s an Alabama product. I know that it’s going to be a good wholesome product. So many folks, especially this year, we have worked with credit systems; Alabama Farm Credit, Alabama Ag Credit and First South have all helped us get new members. We have been able to expand our database and encourage more people to get connected with farmers.”
Sweet Grown Alabama is a non-profit organization that started in 2019. Growers of all fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including peaches, pecans, squash, strawberries tomatoes and watermelons, can be found in the program’s database.
The program is open to marketing all of Alabama agriculture, as it also caters to peanuts and catfish. The specialty crop sector comprises a substantial share of that promotional effort. The state’s fruits and vegetables were highlighted during Sweet Grown Alabama Day held on July 26. The Sweet Grown Alabama brand has expanded and made consumers more conscientious in how and what they purchase.