Photo: L-R Nick Williams, AARCDC Incoming Chairman; Katie Thomas, AARCDC Operations Manager; Clara Tapplin, AARCDC Programs Manager; Ellie Watson, Sweet Grown Alabama Director; Noopie Cosby, AARCDC Program Developer, The Cosby Company; Commissioner Rick Pate, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and Sweet Grown Alabama Board President; Mike Roden, AARCDC Executive Director
MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Sweet Grown Alabama is proud to recognize the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils for a four-year commitment to the organization as a Founding Member, the highest level of financial sponsorship.
“RC&D Councils across all of Alabama have supported agriculture for over 50 years. When Ellie Watson and Commissioner Rick Pate met with our board and explained the purpose of Sweet Grown Alabama, the board and I were excited about how this effort could positively impact local farmers and benefit our citizens,” said Mike Roden, Executive Director of the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils. “We commend Ellie and her whole team for making this idea a reality, and we are pleased to play a small part in this effort.”
The Alabama Association of RC&D Council’s financial support will help Sweet Grown Alabama connect Alabama farmers and families. Funds will be utilized to encourage purchasing of locally grown products through traditional and digital marketing. Consumers can search for a variety of products grown in Alabama including produce, cotton goods, container plants, peanuts, meat, honey and more at SweetGrownAlabama.org.
“The Alabama Association of RC&D Councils was the first group outside of the project creators to step up and financially support Sweet Grown Alabama,” said Ellie Watson, Sweet Grown Alabama Director. “This early support for our non-profit was critical in helping Sweet Grown Alabama succeed from its inception. Our values align well with those of RC&D, and we are thrilled to work together to help Alabama thrive.”
Due to COVID-19, plans for a dinner using Sweet Grown Alabama ingredients at the RC&D Annual Meeting were canceled, but organizers hope to see this celebration happen in the future.
To learn more about the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, visit AlabamaRCD.org. For more information on Sweet Grown Alabama, visit www.SweetGrownAlabama.org
About Sweet Grown Alabama:
Sweet Grown Alabama is a non-profit foundation that enhances marketing opportunities for Alabama farmers by connecting retailers and consumers to Alabama-grown foods and other agricultural products. Farmers, product makers, restaurants, retailers and others are encouraged to join the branding program and use the Sweet Grown Alabama logo on their locally grown products. To learn more visit SweetGrownAlabama.org.
About the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils:
There are so many ways to describe RC&D, but the heart of the program is people doing things for other people to improve the quality of life for fellow Alabamians. In essence, it is local RC&D volunteers identifying their problems and opportunities and dealing with them, with a little help from the government and from others. The RC&D Councils in Alabama are proud of their accomplishments, but there is much yet that can be done to make our communities a better place to live, work and play. The Association is dedicated to conserving, enhancing, and developing the state’s natural and human resources. Learn more at AlabamaRCD.org.
