Whats happening at Ohio Proud?

I've been working at the Ohio Department of Agriculture for about two monthes now and I am really enjoying the work I am doing. Right now in the Ohio Proud Department we are working on getting all the companies to renew their partnership memberships for the year 2010. Each company pays an annual fee of $25.00 which covers them as partners for all of 2010. As Ohio Proud partners they are permitted to use the Ohio Proud logo on there Ohio Proud products and sell there products as Ohio Proud. This marketing program is trying to get people to buy local products, support local farmers, increase sales of Ohio companies, provide jobs to Ohioans and reinvest money into Ohio's economy.

Being the Ohio Proud intern also requires knowing of the companies in order to know the products the companies are selling etc. I call companies on a daily basis about concerns they may have pertaining the Ohio Proud program. I recently researched sugar beets in Ohio for a consumer. Although they're no sugar beet companies still left in Ohio it was interesting calling all the company owners and extension agents asking them if they had any knowledge about the sugar beet industry.

Mailing out information about the Ohio Proud program is another very important task for my internship. We mail out promotional materials like banners, stickers, labels and pamphlets to our partners. Ohio Proud recently did a promotional mailing to people who visited surronding partners and then sent the postcards with the stamps of the companies so we could send them an Ohio Proud gift box. The box was filled with Ohio Proud products, water, recipes, measuring spoons and reusable grocery bags. This was a great way to get the Ohio Proud logo out to the public.

Lately, I've been putting together partners for the 2010 Power Show at the expo center, January 29, 30, & 31. We will have ten partners at the show selling and demonstrating their products to consumers. The Ohio Proud kitchen will also be there for demonstrations and promotional material.

Ohio proud plans to attend the 2010 Women's summit in March and we are currently getting flyers sent out to all the women owned companies. The flyer will include dates of the show, logos, reasons for attending, etc. The show will be a great way for women partners to show off their product to possible consumers.