FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2000
Supermarket Makes “SC Quality” Easy Choice
(COLUMBIA)–How do you find SC products in the supermarket? You look for the sign that says "SC Quality."
Today, Les Tindal, Commissioner of Agriculture, Heyward King and Henry Johnson of IGA, and several SC producers and processors met at the IGA Plus on Kelley St. in Lake City to launch the "SC Quality" product awareness campaign in the state’s Hometown Proud IGA Food Stores.
For a long time, Les Tindal, Commissioner, and the SC Department of Agriculture have been urging the people of the state to buy SC products. But, finding those products in the supermarket has been like looking for a needle in the haystack some consumers say. Kathy Floyd, a long time IGA shopper said, “I’ve wanted to buy SC products to support our agriculture industry. It’s a big business in this area. But, reading the labels takes time---and, even then, it’s still sometimes difficult to tell. Finally, IGA has made it easy to see exactly which products are produced or processed here.”
In a cooperative effort with the SCDA Marketing and Promotion Division, IGA has created an innovative system to actually show their customers which products are SC produced or processed. The independent stores have displayed the "SC Quality" logo on their shelves at the point of purchase, and they are using the logo in their ads to show which products are SC grown or processed. Now, for the first time, buying SC fresh and processed products is really simple. Shoppers need to look no further than the blue and white "SC Quality" seal.
Why have Commissioner Tindal and the SCDA pushed for people to buy "SC Quality" products? SC products are locally grown or processed. That means it takes less time to get those products from field to fork. Less time from farm to table means fresher products. In addition, buying SC products keeps our dollars in the state, nourishing our own economy.
Commissioner Tindal said, "When we buy SC products, we’re supporting local communities, especially in those areas that have had job and revenue losses. I commend IGA for working with us to spotlight “SC Quality” products in their stores. And, I hope that other supermarket chains will follow their lead and join us in this campaign. South Carolina farm and agribusiness people like those at IGA, working together, bring consumers the best that agriculture has to offer---the food on the table. Now that IGA has joined our effort, SC Quality’s really an easy choice!"
W. Lee Flowers & Co in Lake City markets and distributes food and food products to approximately fifty company-owned and independent IGA supermarkets in South Carolina. Doug Stone, Advertising Director, said, “When consumers see the IGA---Hometown Proud sign, they can rest assured that it’s IGA---Homegrown and Home processed Proud! IGA supermarkets are major employers in their hometowns, and those individuals who make up our workforce represent a diverse group. They also make individual contributions to their local communities. That’s why we encourage our shoppers to buy SC products. Our employees and their families, our customers, and our local communities are important to us. We are Hometown Proud!”
“I’m delighted to see my products on the shelf at IGA,” said local processor Scott Harvin, “but I’m even more impressed that they stand out from the crowd with those shelf cards. This is one great way to assist our state’s farmers and processors, especially here in the Pee Dee. All of my agriculture and agribusiness partners who have SC products in this and other stores around the state really appreciate IGA for this opportunity.”
For more information about W. Lee Flowers and IGA, call Doug Stone, Category Manager, at 843-389-2731. For more information on the “SC Quality” program, call Martin Eubanks, SCDA Marketing and Promotion Division, at 803-734-2221.
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