Indiana Grown Adds Staff

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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana’s local food initiative is seeing growth within its own staff. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture has named David King Indiana Grown’s first director, along with Suzi Spahr, program manager.
King has been with the ISDA since 2014 where he has served as local foods program manager, overseeing programs including Indiana Grown and Food Hubs. King says he hopes to strengthen the Indiana Grown program and build on its momentum.
"I have spoken with several Indiana Grown members who have doubled the size of their operation as a result of the program, one increasing by 400 percent, so this is a really exciting time to be a part of this movement," King said. "My goal is to not only expand the program to benefit more of our farming families, but also to take advantage of every opportunity to connect producers with consumers, retailers and restaurants alike."
Spahr also joined the ISDA in 2014, serving as executive assistant and supporting Indiana Grown’s operations. She says, "I look forward to creating an environment that encourages Hoosier producers, big or small, to participate in Indiana Grown, while building up those partnerships that have been critical to the program’s initial success.”
Indiana Grown is a statewide initiative "designed to help Hoosier consumers easily identify, locate and purchase products that have been grown, raised or processed within Indiana," according to the ISDA. The program launched last summer and has nearly 350 members.