Select Success Stories

Restaurants & Foodservice
- Producers at the 2011 Treasure Valley Farmer Chef Collaborative reported    expected gains over the next 12 months to be over $85,000.

-The 2011 Farmer Chef Collaborative was a great opportunity for local producers and chefs to connect. As a result of the event Flora Company met 18 new foodservice contacts. Several other participants also made new contacts and strengthened relationships with current business partners.

- As a result of the 2010 Sun Valley Farmer-Chef Collaborative, Cowboy Tom's of Declo is now supplying their gluten free buckwheat pancakes to Perry's Restaurant in Sun Valley. The restaurant has had great sucess with the product and is now selling their mix in the retail area of the restaurant.

- Seventeen agricultural companies met with thirteen restaurants at the 2010 Moscow Farmer-Chef Collaborative held March 1 in Moscow, ID. The event allowed producers to "speed date" one-on-one with area chefs, restaurant owners, and institutional foodservice managers who are interested in serving local food on their menus.

- "The 2009 Boise Farmer-Chef Collaborative was a success and it afforded me a chance to meet our regular customers and talk about Idaho's Bounty. I would say it has definitely reaffirmed our relationship with existing customers."
    -Tim Sommer, Purple Sage Farms

Retail
-July 16-September 26, 2010 two Albertsons had a traveling Farmers Market that displayed local produce and used Idaho Preferred POS. Sales increased on displayed local items between 13-170+%.

-In 2010 versus 2009 local products saw dramatic increases in sales through Food Services of America. Purple Sage Farms had sales more than double, Symms Fruits Ranch had sales up 53%, The Berry ranch sold 600% more cases, Wissel Farms had an increase in sales of 40%, and local asparagus sales were up 70%. Les Jenkins, Director of Produce Operations, FSA Boise stated, " These numbers would not have been attainable without the support of Idaho Preferred marketing and advertising programs..."

- As part of Idaho Preferred month, 900 Meridian School District students received a "Ticket to Healthy Snacking" redeemable on September 9, 2010 at the Meridian Walmart location for a free bag of Idaho produce. 250 students, along with their parents, took advantage of the free produce and nearly 600 lbs. of Idaho peaches, potatoes, apples, pears, and plums were provided to these students for free.

Education
-"The service and products are why I choose to do the Idaho Preferred fundraiser every year. I will do no other. Healthy products, great service, and purchasing local products keep me coming back. I consistently raise about $1200 a year to purchase music for my chorus, show choir, and bands."
--Donna Szathmary, Christine Donnell School of the Arts

- ISDA helped connect Rooster Ridge Vineyard, a local table grape producer, and the Caldwell School District  in spring of 2010. As a result, the school district plans to purchase Rooster Ridge’s grapes in 2011. Additionally, ISDA helped connect the vineyard with College of Idaho foodservice contacts, which led to a field tour from their staff and purchasing of their 2010 crop for the various dining facilities on campus.

- Idaho Preferred® and the Idaho State Department of Education worked cooperatively together to implement the first-ever Farm to School Pilot Program in five school districts throughout Idaho this September. To kick off the program in 2010, First Lady Lori Otter visited Morely Nelsen Elementary in Boise to have lunch with students that included Idaho cantaloupe, zucchini, cucumbers, milk and trout. Each school was required to use at least two Idaho Preferred® products on their school lunch menu per week in September and one product/week for the remainder of the school year. Over $24,000 of Idaho fruits and vegetables and $150,000 other Idaho foods were served in September 2010.

- “The Idaho Preferred® Fundraiser program has created an excellent opportunity to provide local products and produce to schools. I have been amazed by the success of this program. Not only has it generated incremental sales but Idaho producers are connecting children to agriculture and helping schools and programs raise much needed funds."
    --Kelly Henggeler, Heggeler Packing Co. in Fruitland

- 37 Idaho schools participated in the 2010 Idaho Preferred Fundraiser. They sold over 5,600 products that brought in $29,000 in sales to Idaho producers and $24,000 was earned for Idaho schools.

 -"Being a part of the Idaho Preferred® program has benefited our table grape sales and marketing. The membership is worth everything to us. I enjoy sharing our farm to school experiences with others at the nutrition meeting this past fall. It was fun and well worth our time. If all goes well, we may get grapes to Valle View, Middleton, and Marsing schools. Thanks to the Idaho Preferred® program we were able to pick up to more schools as part of the Farm to School program."
-Ken Africa, Rooster Ridge Vineyards in Caldwell

Advertising/Public Relations
-Over 900 people sampled Idaho products at Savor Idaho on June 12th. The Idaho Preferred booth sampled homemade Idaho potato chips dipped in chocolate with Idaho bacon crumbles and huckleberry sauce. Two barley salad recipes were also showcased at the event. 

- Seven Idaho Preferred® companies exhibited at the Idaho Preferred® booth at the 2011 Green Expo on May 14 & 15 to promote, sample and sell their products. Nearly 15,000 visitors attended the Expo to learn more about local foods, products and sustainable living.

- In 2010, nine weeks of television advertising were purchased in six television markets across the state. Three weeks of ads ran in April and May focusing solely on nursery items. Six weeks ran in August and September promoting a variety of Idaho Preferred® products.