Regional Efforts Band Together to Promote Local Ag

January 22, 2015 - Two local agriculture groups have partnered with Ag Link CONNECT to promote local food, farms and fun! Together, they are elevating local food networks with online innovation and tools in the heart of California's Central Valley.

Stanislaus Grown, pioneered by East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District was established in 2014. After developing a brand and logo the organization produced and distributed 10,000 of its first Local Food & Farm Guides. The full color magazine style publication represents the group's goal of supporting Stanislaus County producers and preserving its' agricultural heritage.

Country Ventures of Merced County, an affiliate of Valley Land Alliance, supports the promotion of Merced County's Ag, Art & Nature. Country Ventures has produced audio tours and championed the crop sign campaigns for Merced County, but is most known for the production and distribution of Merced County's Visitors Guide of Ag, Art and Nature. Their traditional multi-fold map format displays a colorful, engaging layout of the county with the best spots to visit when traveling through. Over the past 5 years, 15,000 maps have been distributed at key locations throughout the county as well as major visitor hubs outside of the county including Casa de Fruta, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Modesto visitor centers.

Both Stan Grown and Country Ventures are fundraising now to produce their 2015 editions of their respective publications, this year however they are expanding their reach by linking their efforts with the new online food, farm and fun event guide and iPhone app made by local company, Ag Link.

The Ag Link CONNECT website and app launched last Fall offering people a new online and mobile one-stop-shop to access everything related to local food, farms and fun. It features events big and small showcasing local food and agri-tainment along with video profiles, map views and deals from merchants.

Regional groups like Stan Grown and Country Ventures are not foreign to California's farming communities, in fact Ag Link estimates there are over 200 regional efforts statewide with various geographic or product focuses.

Visit California, the agency tasked with promoting all of California's tourism opportunities, says their research shows that people know that the Valley has agri-tourism assets, but they struggle to access info about them.

"These regional efforts networking together is a real benefit for people that enjoy and are looking for good food, farm to table freshness and local fun," says Jana Nairn, CEO of Ag Link.

Ag Link will be one of the many participants at the upcoming Stanislaus Grown Stakeholder Breakfast on Monday, January 28th from 8:30-11am at Harvest Hall in the Stanislaus County Ag Center.

Ag Link CONNECT information can be accessed at the website www.aglinkconnect.com. The app is also FREE to download from the iTunes store.