Alice in Dairyland Shares ‘Something Special From Wisconsin’
For the perfect gift idea, Wisconsinites don’t have to look any further than their state.
Whether it’s a special variety of cheese, a signature spice blend, or even a box of ginseng, there are plenty of ways to both give well and support local agriculture at the same time. Since 1 in 9 Wisconsin jobs are related to agriculture, each purchase supports local farmers.
“When you buy products from Wisconsin, you’re supporting your neighbors,” Kaitlyn Riley, this year’s Alice in Dairyland. “You’re supporting your local farms and processors, so they not only can continue to put food on their own tables, but they can provide food for our families.”
As Alice, Riley has traveled 17,000 miles since June promoting agriculture in Wisconsin and has become more aware of the impact of supporting local.
“This year has definitely opened my eyes to the opportunities of products in agriculture,” she told OnFocus. “I was raised on a farm, so I’ve always said shop local. But being Alice, I’ve been much more cognizant of looking at the back of food labels or looking for the Wisconsin label in the grocery store, more so than I have before. I think it’s been a great growth year for me to understand the importance of it.”
According to the Department of Agriculture, over 70 percent of Wisconsin consumers are more likely to purchase a product that was produced in the state than one elsewhere. Consumers can see if a product is grown local or made with Wisconsin ingredients by looking at the label for a special logo or for distribution information.
A listing of state producers can be found at SomethingSpecialWI.com, making it easy to discover where one can find products like applewood smoked hams, grain to glass spirits, and goat milk soap.
“Diversity of Wisconsin agriculture is our greatest strength,” Riley said.
Follow Alice at AliceInDairyland.com.
Author: News Desk
This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected].
