Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

Downtown Montgomery was filled with Sweet Grown Alabama products Tuesday, January 20 as farmers, agricultural industry leaders and friends joined members of the Alabama Legislature and other elected officials for the annual Sweet Grown Alabama Legislative Luncheon.

The luncheon provided an opportunity for Alabama farmers and agricultural leaders to connect with legislators while showcasing the quality and variety of products grown across the state. Over 225 attendees enjoyed a locally-sourced meal with beef from Diamond D Ranch of Ramer and vegetables from The Mathis Mini Farm of Clanton catered by FDL-Gourmet to Go.  

Sweet Grown Alabama thanks the legislators who attended and the Alabama Agribusiness Council and its members for co-hosting the event and helping demonstrate the unity and collaboration within Alabama’s agriculture industry.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our legislators, which allows us to connect Alabama consumers with the high-quality local products grown and raised right here at home,” said Ellie Watson, Sweet Grown Alabama director. "Partnering with the Alabama Agribusiness Council and its members on this luncheon was a huge success and allowed us to showcase the strong family bond that spans the state's entire agriculture industry." 

Sweet Grown Alabama farmers also valued the opportunity to build relationships during the event.

“I really enjoyed the chance to network with fellow farmers, industry leaders and legislators,” said Beth Hornsby of Hornsby Farms in Auburn. “Being part of Sweet Grown Alabama provides opportunities like this, and it’s one of the many reasons I’m proud to be involved.”

The annual legislative luncheon continues to serve as an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and highlight the people and products that support Alabama agriculture. In addition to this outreach with legislators, Sweet Grown Alabama also delivered 140 bags to their offices at the Statehouse that included a print copy of the annual report and Southern Honey Company (Black, AL) honey, Medders Family Farm (Montevallo, AL) s'mores peanut butter, Bayou Pecan Co. (Irvington, AL) pecans and chocolate covered peanuts contributed by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. 

Partners sponsoring the event through the Alabama Agribusiness Council included:

• Alabama 4-H
• Alabama Ag Credit (also a Sweet Grown Alabama supporter)
• Alabama Association of Conservation Districts
• Alabama Cattlemen's Association (also hosted the event at their headquarters) 
• Alabama Farmers Federation (also a Sweet Grown Alabama supporter)
• Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association (also a Sweet Grown Alabama member)
• Alabama Peanut Producers Association (also a Sweet Grown Alabama member)
• First South Farm Credit (also a Sweet Grown Alabama supporter)
• Tuskegee College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences

To view all photos from the luncheon, click here.