WHEREAS, agriculture is Idaho’s leading natural resource-based industry, contributing over $5 billion annually to the state’s economy; and

        WHEREAS, food processing is Idaho’s second-largest manufacturing sector; and

        WHEREAS, Idaho produces 144 different food and agricultural products; and

        WHEREAS, Idaho’s food and agricultural producers and manufacturers produce to the highest quality standards; and

        WHEREAS, Idahoans have an expressed desire to seek, purchase and consume food and agricultural products grown, raised, and processed in the state of Idaho; and

        WHEREAS, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture has developed the IDAHO PREFERRED® branding program to identify and promote food and agricultural products from the state of Idaho; and

        WHEREAS, September is the peak of harvest season in the state of Idaho and fresh fruits, vegetables and other food products will be widely available at grocery stores, farmers markets, restaurants and school cafeterias; and

        WHEREAS, citizens from across the state recognize the economic value of purchasing food and agricultural products that have been grown, raised, or manufactured in the state of Idaho;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim September 2008 to be

IDAHO PREFERRED® MONTH

and I encourage all Idahoans to participate in and support Idaho’s agricultural community by seeking and purchasing food and agricultural products from the state of Idaho.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho on this twenty-sixth day of August in the year of our Lord two thousand and eight and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-third and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred nineteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE