Homegrown by Heroes comes to Arkansas

Acts as a marketing tool for military farmers

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Military personnel in Arkansas who serve the country by defending it as well as feeding it, will be able to label their produce with a “Homegrown by Heroes” label that also features the words “Arkansas Grown.”

The Homegrown by Heroes program gives veterans in the agricultural industry another marketing tool and encourages other veterans to not only consider agriculture as a career, but also bring more veterans to Arkansas; a state that currently houses around 250,000 veterans.

The initiative is a joint effort by the Arkansas Agriculture Department and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson calls the Homegrown by Heroes label a way for citizens to thank veterans for their service.

Wes Ward, Arkansas Agriculture Secretary said veterans have all the necessary skills to pursue jobs in agriculture, the state’s top earning industry which brings in about $20 billion to the Arkansas economy.

Ward also noted that with the world’s population expected to exceed 9 billion by the year 2050, there’s a shortage of people considering a career in agriculture and current farmers are aging.

Veterans, active duty, National Guard and Reserve members are all eligible for the Homegrown by Heroes program. Businesses can be certified for the program if a veteran maintains 50% ownership.

The products must meet proper food safety guidelines and the Farmer Veteran Coalition works with applicants to determine what those requirements are.

Tell us your thoughts about the Homegrown by Heroes labels coming to Arkansas.

If you are or know a military veteran looking for work in the agricultural industry, visit the Ag Warriors page.