Gov. Schweiker Kicks 0ff2002 ‘Simply Delicious’ Produce Season
SUSQUEHANNA TOWN
SHIP (Dauphin County) Call
ing Pennsylvania agriculture and
farm products second to none.
Gov. Mark Schweiker kicked off
the 2002 produce season by
launching an expanded market
ing campaign to promote the
“Pennsylvania Produce Simply
Delicious” initiative across the
commonwealth.
Joined by Agriculture Secre
tary Sam Hayes, local growers,
farmers’ market and grocery
store operators and others, Gov.
Schweiker unveiled a 30-second
television ad ns Ae centerpiece of
a more than $1 million promo
tional campaign encouraging
consumers to purchase Pennsyl
vania’s /‘Simply Delicious” pro
duce.
“The world is coming to know
Pennsylvania as a leader in agri
business,” Schweiker said. “But,
while we continue to focus on
new markets around the world,
we should never lose sight of the
fact that growing a worldwide
status begins with a homegrown
touch.
“Today I am proud to stand
along side Secretary Hayes and
those who grow and sell Pennsyl
vania farm products to remind
Pennsylvanians that some of the
best-tasting produce is right at
their front doors. Our home
grown fruits and vegetables are
second to none. Pennsylvania
Russian Journalists Tour Lancaster Farming
EPHRATA (Lancaster Co.) Late last week, five Russian journalists visited
the editorial and production offices of Lancaster Farming. They were accom
panied by Jim Dunn, Penn State professor of ag economics, far right, along
with an interpreter. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
produce is ‘Simply Delicious,’
and when we buy homegrown
products, we are supporting our
hard-working farm families while
we feed our own families.”
During a visit to Fox’s Markets
in suburban Harrisburg, a partic
ipating store in the program,
Schweiker unveiled the new
30-second television ad promot
ing Pennsylvania produce as
“simply delicious” through the
eyes and words of an enthusiastic
little boy enjoying local produce.
Hie commercial began airing in
central Pennsylvania, and will
reach five media markets across
the commonwealth by August.
The ad will air more than 2,000
times this growing season.
“Make no mistake the ‘Sim
ply Delicious’ campaign isn’t just
a feel-good TV commercial. It is
an essential new tool that will
help our family farmers compete
for business,” Schweiker said.
“Both Pennsylvania growers and
sellers have expressed to me the
need to stay competitive with
other states in the fruit and vege
table market. ‘Simply Delicious’
helps us do just that by promot
ing Pennsylvania products in
Pennsylvania.”
To provide another reminder
to consumers, Schweiker said
that 400 “Simply Delicious” bill
boards will, once again, be on dis
play across Pennsylvania, provid
ing colorful messages about
Pennsylvania produce. Largely in
part to the billboards and new
television commercial, this year
Pennsylvania will invest more
than $1 million to promote the
“Simply Delicious” program.
“We can all be Pennsylvania
proud of the quality and bounty
of the ‘Simply Delicious’ fruits
and vegetables provided by the
labor and dedication of Pennsyl
vania’s growers,” Agriculture
Secretary Sam Hayes said.
“There is something for everyone
to enjoy, from fresh sweet com
and tomatoes to sun-ripened
strawberries and juicy peaches. It
is easy to see why our produce is
‘Simply Delicious.’”
Launched in 1998, the “Simply
Delicious” promotion program
continues to tell the good story
about Pennsylvania produce,
helping Pennsylvanians to find
locally grown, farm-fresh prod
ucts. More than 1,300 retail out
lets and 650 growers are com
mitted to this innovative
marketing program, partnering
to meet consumer demand and
build on Pennsylvania No. 1 in
dustry agriculture.
Anchored by more than $4 bil
lion in annual cash-value com
modity receipts, agriculture
generates $44 billion in related
economic activity each year and
employs more than 800,000 peo
ple.
Pennsylvania ranks in the top
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 29, 2002-A29
From left to right, Kimberly Johnston, Pennsylvania
apple queen; Julie Flinchbaugh; Secretary Sam Hayes;
Jacquie Pratt, Pennsylvania fair queen; and Holly Rankin,
2001-2002 FFA state treasurer.
10 states in the production of promotional items such as price
many fruits and vegetables, in- cards, banners, posters, and
eluding apples, cantaloupes, to- graphics are available. For more
matoes, grapes, mushrooms, information on participating re
pears, peaches, pumpkins, snap toilers and growers, visit the PA
bean processing, strawberries, Power Port at www.state.pa.us,
sweet cherries, sweet com and PA Keyword: “agriculture.” For
sweet corn processing, and tort questions about the “Pennsylva
nia Produce Simply Delicious”
cherries.
To help grocery stores and program, call the Department of
farmers’ markets spread the Agriculture’s Bureau of Market
“Simply Delicious” message, Development at (717) 787-6041.
Winter Wheat Production
Expected To Be Up 22 Percent
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) Based on June 1 condi
tions, Pennsylvania’s 2002 pro
duction of winter wheat is ex
pected to be 22 percent above
2001, according to the Pennsylva
nia Agricultural Statistics Serv
ice.
Winter wheat production in
Pennsylvania is forecast at 10.15
million bushels, up 22 percent
from last year’s production of
8.32 million bushels. Farmers ex
pect to harvest 175,000 acres with
an average yield of 58.0 bushel
per acre.
o^—^
Randall G. Renninger
Certified Public Accountant
Specializing in agriculture and construction industries
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U.S. winter wheat production
for 2002 is forecast at 1.24 billion
bushels based on crop conditions
as of June 1. This is down five
percent from the May 1 forecast
and nine percent below 2001 and
is the lowest production since
1978. Based on June 1 condi
tions, the U.S. yield is forecast at
41.0 bushels per acre, down 2.1
bushels from the previous fore
cast. Grain area totals 30.2 mil
lion acres unchanged from May
1.