Farmer Veteran Coalition’s Homegrown By Heroes label now has blended labels in 18 states, enabling Homegrown By Heroes-certified producers to promote their products as Veteran-owned and produced and with their state.
Three state Departments of Agriculture have added merged labels in 2024: New Mexico, Minnesota, and most recently, Tennessee.
The labels combine elements of each state’s own “buy local” campaign with the FVC’s Homegrown by Heroes label. Tennessee has a “Pick Tennessee Products” program in existence for more than 30 years.
“We are proud of our military men and women and are honored when they choose to join our agricultural community,” said Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, DVM, in announcing the blended label in early July. “This merged Homegrown by Heroes and Pick Tennessee Products logo will allow our Farmer Veterans to stand out in the market as not only a Tennessee product but also a Veteran-produced product.”
Minnesota’s “Minnesota Grown” logo is incorporated as part of its blended Homegrown By Heroes label. Minnesota Grown recently offered free stickers of the merged label available to properly certified producers.
The Homegrown by Heroes label differentiates Veteran-produced goods in competitive markets, giving consumers a tangible way to support Veterans.
The display of the label aids with point-of-sale visibility and gives consumers the opportunity to ask Veterans about their story, leading to customer loyalty and trust.
Producers must first become certified with the Homegrown By Heroes label before they can certify with their state’s Department of Agriculture for the merged label. Certification is free.
Check FVC’s Homegrown By Heroes page at https://farmvetco.org/hbh/ to find merged labels in your state, if available. The MarketMaker plug-in on the page can show Homegrown By Heroes producers near you.
