Summer. The perfect time to gather with family and friends for a backyard barbeque. Whether your grill is adorned with a t-bone steak, pork chop, chicken, or vegetables, Missouri’s farmers and ranchers are committed to producing the food you and your family enjoy.
The Missouri Pork Association has teamed up with other Missouri agriculture organizations to launch a summer education campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals. Titled “Missouri Farmers: Stepping Up to the Plate,” the goal of this initiative is to increase consumer understanding of how today’s farmers provide safe, affordable and nutritious food.
An extension of the campaign will promote agricultural items at the meat case. Schnucks Markets is featuring the educational campaign in all 110 Schnucks grocery stores across Missouri and bordering states.
The Schnucks promotional elements include radio ads on St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network, point of purchase materials, and a buy-one-get-one free ticket offer with a minimum purchase. Participating stores will feature displays showcasing a Missouri farmer and St. Louis Cardinals left-fielder, Matt Holliday, to highlight a select agricultural commodity each month.
In celebration of summer, Schnucks Markets will be promoting pork and offering Cardinals fans a buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer with the purchase of five packages of pork from July 5 through Aug. 1. August will highlight eggs and poultry. Beef and dairy products have been highlighted in the past.
“We are excited to partner with the Cardinals,” said Rick Rehmeier, featured hog farmer from Augusta. “This is a great way to let consumers know that Missouri’s pork producers care deeply about producing high-quality products, taking care of our animals and natural resources, and contributing to our communities.”
In addition to hearing from farmers on the radio and seeing them in the store, Missouri residents can also go online to learn more about Missouri agriculture and sign up to win the “Ultimate At-Home Tailgate Party.” Available at www.farmersfeedus.org, this summer sweepstakes is a followup to the free grocery giveaway event launched in January.
The winner of the “Ultimate At-Home Tailgate Party” will receive a new gas grill, flat screen television and a gift certificate for Missouri-grown products. The registration form is available at www.farmersfeedus.org by selecting Missouri as the state. While visiting the website, consumers can watch a video tour of five additional Missouri farmers, their families and their businesses.
The “Stepping Up to the Plate” promotion with the St. Louis Cardinals and Schnucks began in May and will run through September. Participating Missouri agriculture groups include the Missouri Beef Industry Council, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Farm Bureau, Midwest Dairy Association, FCS Financial, The Missouri Egg Council, MFA Incorporated, Missouri Pork Association and the St. Louis Agribusiness Council.