Idaho Preferred® is a program to identify and promote food and agricultural products grown, raised, or processed in the Gem State. Administered by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, the program showcases the quality, diversity, and availability of Idaho food and agricultural products and helps Idaho consumers find local products.
Idaho companies passionate about growing and selling quality food and agricultural products.
185+
The number of agricultural products grown in Idaho.
20+
Years we’ve been raising consumer awareness of Idaho food and agriculture products.
We are so thankful and proud to be a part of Idaho Preferred! We’ve been given the opportunity to meet local chefs, fellow farmers, and like-minded Idahoans who value local produce like we do. You can’t put a price tag on networking!
Tia Groves, Groves Country Farms (2020)
Instituted in 2002 with funding from a USDA grant, the Idaho Preferred® program has been successful in raising consumer awareness of Idaho food and agriculture products. This increased awareness has been achieved through advertising, public relations, consumer events, retail and food-service promotions, and farm-to-school education programs.
The nearly 300 Idaho Preferred participants are local companies passionate about selling quality food and agricultural products. Local growers’, producers’, and food processors’ products must meet strict criteria to qualify to use the blue and gold label. Fresh fruits and vegetables must be grown in Idaho, processed products must contain at least 20% locally grown ingredients, meats must be raised or processed in Idaho, and wines must be made of 95% Idaho grown grapes.
Look for the Idaho Preferred label the next time you’re at your local grocer, farmers market, restaurant, or retail nursery to be assured that you are buying Idaho grown or crafted products that support local farmers, ranchers, and food crafters.
Idaho is famous for its potatoes, but that is only one of over 185 different agricultural products produced in Idaho. Asparagus grows in the spring. Strawberries, Bing cherries, apricots, and raspberries ripen in the summer. Peaches, plums, pears and corn are available in the fall, and apples, onions, dry beans, and local meats can be found just about year-round.
And that’s not everything! Idaho processors also specialize in breads, dairy products, wine, nursery plants, and crafted foods like jams, jellies, pickled vegetables, and more. Next time you buy trees, shrubs, or flowers for your yard and garden, or wood products for your home improvement projects, look for Idaho-grown varieties.
