Awards Add Shine to Texas Pride

I am always proud of the work our team does here at the Texas Department of Agriculture and apparently I’m not alone. The Texas Association of Fairs and Events recently awarded 11 Ray Cammack Shows Awards of Excellence for Marketing and Communications to TDA’s 2010 State Fair of Texas Food and Fiber Pavilion.

Each year, the Food and Fiber Pavilion, presented by Borden, educates countless Texans about agriculture while supporting dozens of Lone Star businesses and highlighting Texas pride. Congratulations to the TDA team that makes this award-winning effort possible.

Following are the awards:

1st place – Best Agricultural Education Program
1st place – Best Promotional Advertising — Outdoor
1st place – Best Radio Promotion — Ad Spot or PSA
1st place – Best Specialty Video
1st place – Best Promotional Poster
1st place – Best Program/Brochure/Flyer — Four or more colors
1st place – Best Miscellaneous Printed Materials
1st place – Best Other Merchandise
1st place – Best Environmental/Green Program
2nd place – Best New Media Platform
2nd place – Best Newsletter

Texas Christmas Trees and Poinsettias Make All Houses Feel Like Homes

I had the great pleasure this week of presenting Texas grown Christmas trees and poinsettias to the Ronald McDonald House in Austin. The beautiful trees, donated by our friends at Evergreen Farms in Elgin, and the flowers, which were given by the Texas State Florists’ Association, have helped bring the scent and color of Christmas to this “home away from home” for many Texas families.

While our Texas farmers work hard all year to raise these beautiful holiday trees and flowers, the folks at the Ronald McDonald House also do admirable work each and every day. The facility offers a comfortable setting for families and their children who are seriously ill or injured and receiving treatment at all Austin hospitals. Today’s gifts of Christmas trees and poinsettias brought these families and their children one step closer to home for the holidays.

I encourage all Texans to make their houses feel more like homes this holiday season with Texas Christmas trees and poinsettias. The beautiful trees and flowers that brought such joy to the Ronald McDonald House can do the same for your home as the spirit of the season draws near. For a list of Texas Christmas tree farms and nurseries, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov and click on GO TEXAN Programs.

May all your holidays be blessed.

GO TEXAN for Gifts

I’m not sure about you, but for me, Christmas shopping doesn’t come easy. Thankfully there’s an easy way to fill your loved ones’ stockings with Texas pride – by using the 2010 GO TEXAN Holiday Gift Guide – your one-stop shop for locally made products.

Texas is rich in diversity, and the products Texans make are no exception. From hunting and outdoor accessories to jewelry, furniture and food, the 2010 GO TEXAN Holiday Gift Guide features more than 250 Texas companies, some offering discounts of up to 20 percent.

When you buy Texas products, you are supporting local businesses and, in turn, investing your dollars in the Texas economy. A study by Texas Tech University found GO TEXAN members’ sales provided an economic impact of more than $1.46 billion in 2009, and each business employed 16 people on average.

This holiday, I encourage you to GO TEXAN for gifts. GO TEXAN members add Texas value to their products right here in the Lone Star State, so you know you are getting real Texas products and helping create real economic results for your state and your neighbors.

To view or download the 2010 GO TEXAN Gift Guide, click here or visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov. You can also scroll through it below.

Happy Holidays and remember to GO TEXAN this season!

GOTEXAN Holiday Gift Guide

Muleshoe to Star on National Network

Guest Blogger, Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner of Rural Economic Development

Besides having immediate name recognition, the city of Muleshoe, Texas, also has promoted itself as a tourism destination through the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN Rural Community Program.

Last June, the Food Network visited Muleshoe to film an "Ace of Cakes" episode called "Slow Mules and Fast Cars." Chef Duff Goldman and his crew experienced true Texas hospitality as they enjoyed a potluck dinner, complete with savory Texas brisket and homemade ice cream. The bakers even got to ride authentic Muleshoe mules.

More than 200 people, including TDA Rural Economic Development staff, eagerly awaited the Muleshoe-themed cake made by Chef Duff and his crew. The cake was in the shape of a mule-riding hat (6” brim) - not to be confused with a cowboy hat - sitting on top of two mule shoes. Christian, the mule ridden by Chef Duff, even sampled some cake.

The episode will air Thursday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m. CST on the Food Network. The national exposure for the city of Muleshoe is another step city leaders are taking to promote Muleshoe and its quality of life. The city also is currently working on its GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community application, which helps Texas communities market themselves as tourism and retirement destinations.

I applaud the leaders of Muleshoe for taking steps get the city's name out there.

Go Out. Go Eat. GO TEXAN.

Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Hadley, Assistant Commissioner for Marketing and Promotions

Texas has a well-earned reputation for fantastic food and wine, which is why the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, presented by Farm Credit Sept. 27-Oct. 1, is such an exciting event. Not only does the weeklong, statewide dine-out event celebrate Texas restaurants, foods and wines, it also benefits local food banks, as many participating restaurants will donate a portion of proceeds to help feed hungry Texans.

Now in its third year, the Round-Up highlights Texas-grown and raised foods along with Texas wines. During the event, participating restaurants will offer food-and-wine pairings, fixed-price meals and other menu offerings featuring fresh, quality Texas ingredients. Round-Up also kicks off Texas Wine Month in October.


Make plans with your family and co-workers to enjoy a quality meal at a participating GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up establishment, Sept. 27-Oct. 1. To find a participating restaurant near you, visit the GO TEXAN website.

Remember: Go Out. Go Eat. GO TEXAN.

Spoken Like a True Texan

Guest Blogger: Drew DeBerry, Texas Deputy Agriculture Commissioner

Cotton farmers in West Texas are proud to call Roger Haldenby a friend. And it's no mystery as to why based on this article he released yesterday. Although Roger's accent is anything but West Texan, the Englishman's heart is clearly at home in the cotton fields of the South Plains. Rather than adding my own words to Roger's eloquently presented perspective, please take time to read it yourself. I hope it inspires some Texas pride under your cotton shirt like it did in me. GO TEXAN!

Two Texas Originals Team Up to Serve Texans Quality Food

Guest Blogger: Drew DeBerry, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture

Yesterday I joined baseball legend Nolan Ryan to announce that his beef products will now be served in Black-eyed Pea restaurants. It’s great to see these two GO TEXAN members partnering to bring consumers quality Texas food.


Through the GO TEXAN marketing program, we at the Texas Department of Agriculture are committed to helping consumers identify Texas products and the retailers and restaurants that offer them. We know Texas produces some of the best food products you can find, and with the help of GO TEXAN members like Nolan Ryan’s Beef and the Black-eyed Pea, consumers can now find them closer to home.

Visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov to find a GO TEXAN restaurant near you. And don’t forget to dine at one of those establishments the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 1 during the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up – the only statewide dine out event where Texans can invest in their local businesses and charities.

Rural Texas Communities Going the Extra Mile

Guest blogger: Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner for Economic Development

Rural tourism throughout Texas is a growing trend. Whether shopping for antiques or visiting a farm or ranch operation, Texas offers plenty of opportunities for getting away.

Some rural Texas communities are going the extra mile to attract more tourists.
Levelland, for example, is a certified GO TEXAN Rural Community that is breaking ground on a new event center. The Mallet Event Center & Arena will host events such as rodeos, fairs and conferences that are sure to bring extra tourism dollars to Levelland.

On Wednesday, July 28, the public and community leaders will hold a groundbreaking for the new center. Below is a photo of what the event center will look like once it's completed. Congratulations to Levelland for promoting rural tourism.


For more information on becoming a GO TEXAN Certified Rural Community, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov and click on Retire in Texas.

Texas Seafood is Still Safe to Eat!!!

Guest Blogger - Elizabeth Hadley, assistant commissioner for marketing

Ever since the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster hit the Gulf waters near Louisiana, consumers have questioned the safety of Texas seafood. At the Texas Department of Agriculture we have been working diligently to set the record straight about our seafood. Through various coordination activities with industry and fellow government agencies, coupled with outreach to restaurants, retailers, wholesalers and media, we are reminding consumers that Texas waters remain uncontaminated by the spill and that Texas seafood is still safe to eat.

On Thursday, a group of us from TDA ate lunch at Quality Seafood in Austin. Upon walking in, I was thrilled to see this GO TEXAN member proudly display the materials we created for this exact purpose. And I can't say enough about the selection of Texas seafood. We all enjoyed our lunch and were happy to see Texas consumers enjoying safe and high quality Texas seafood.

Thanks again to Quality Seafood for remaining committed to supporting Texas seafood producers, and serving Texans the best our state has to offer.

Remember - GO out. GO Eat. GO TEXAN.

A Visit With a GO TEXAN Member

With Cynthia Sutton-Stolle, co-owner of Silver Barn Antiques

There's always a special place to visit in Texas, and I recently had the opportunity to tour GO TEXAN member Silver Barn Antiques in Columbus, Texas.

Co-owners Cynthia and Becca also carry some very interesting Texas college memorabilia at their store. Red Raider or UT Longhorn fans will probably find what they are looking for at Silver Barn Antiques. Of course, the Texas A&M University products caught my attention.

Besides proudly displaying Texas products, Silver Barn Antiques also serves some terrific Texas-flavored food and is a part of the reason the GO TEXAN marketing campaign is so successful.

TDA's GO TEXAN program is home to many outstanding Texas businesses. If you're looking for a high school or college graduation gift, consider browsing at Silver Barn Antiques or visit the GO TEXAN website where you can find other great gift ideas while supporting the Texas economy.

A Valued Partnership With the Texas Bison Association

I had the honor of speaking with members of the Texas Bison Association at the group’s recent meeting in Fort Worth. I'm a firm believer that partnerships lead to progress, which is why I appreciate the association and its commitment to the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN program.

The Texas Bison Association was formed in 1994 to advocate bison ranching in the Lone Star State. In an effort to maximize its outreach, the Texas Bison Association automatically enrolls its more than 60 members into the GO TEXAN marketing campaign, which promotes the products culture and communities of Texas. For $25 per year, each member of the Texas Bison Association can enjoy such promotional benefits as discounted advertising, exposure at year-round events and festivals, and listings in TDA promotional materials.

It makes me proud to know the association places such a high value on GO TEXAN branding and membership in its mission to advance Texas agriculture. In fact, this is a first where every single member of an association is pre-paid to become a GO TEXAN member. Thanks to the Texas Bison Association for leading the way. Maybe others will soon follow.

For more information about the benefits of GO TEXAN membership, visit our website at www.GoTexan.org. Meanwhile, visit the Texas Bison Association website at www.TexasBison.org. There you will discover a wealth of interesting bison facts while learning more about raising bison and enjoying lean bison meat.

From Market to Menu, Texas Has Great Taste

Something delicious always happens when fresh Lone Star products land in the hands of Texas chefs.

In an effort to highlight this combination of tastes and talents, the Texas Department of Agriculture proudly launched the second season of the From Market to Menu program earlier this year. The program invited farmers markets across the state to apply for grants up to $1,000 to host GO TEXAN restaurant chef cooking demonstrations for market visitors to enjoy. The grant program is funded by a USDA block grant for specialty crop promotions.

From Lubbock to Fredericksburg, 12 farmers markets will host demonstrations May through August. The goal is to help certified Texas farmers markets promote local growers while also highlighting GO TEXAN restaurants committed to serving local products. The GO TEXAN program promotes the products, cultures and communities that call Texas home.

Visit www.gotexan.org for demonstration dates and locations, and remember to GO TEXAN at your area farmers markets and restaurants.

GO TEXAN WineCast Episode 3

The third GO TEXAN WineCast is now available for viewing. The Grapevine Wine Trail
in North Texas features nine wineries. Some of the wineries host themed events such as the Murder Mystery Trail and the Valentine Wine Trail.




You can go to www.YouTube.com/user/GoTexanWine to view videos on other trails located across our state and to find out more about all Texas wines and wineries have to offer.

Tour Texas Wine Trails with New GO TEXAN WineCasts

Friendly personalities, beautiful scenery and award-winning wines characterize Texas wine trails. We're excited people all over the world can access the new GO TEXAN WineCasts to uncork the fun and welcoming experiences of our wine country.

At the Texas Department of Agriculture, we're launching a new series of Web videos highlighting eight Lone Star wine trails. Winemakers and trail representatives will share travel tips for each trail, as well as specifics about trail events, celebrations and what visitors can expect.

The series kicks off with the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail, a group of eight wineries scattered from Brenham to Montgomery. Subsequent weekly episodes will cover wine trails around the state, including Cross Timbers Wine Trail, Dallas Wine Trail, Fredericksburg Wine Road 290, Grapevine Wine Trail, Munson Wine Trail, Texas Hill Country Wine Trail and Way Out Wineries. The videos will be posted on the GO TEXAN Wine YouTube Channel and featured on TDA's Texas wine site.

View our videos for a taste of what wine trails offer, but don't stop there. Pick up TDA's Texas Winery Passport, and explore Texas wine country. You'll not only enjoy your experience, you'll join the roughly 1 million visitors a year touring one of the fastest-growing sectors of Texas agriculture.


Our booming Texas wine industry, with more than 180 wineries, contributes more than $1.35 billion annually to the state's economy. Whether you're a first time visitor or a seasoned Texas wine country veteran, I'm excited to welcome you to explore the pour, taste Texas pride and GO TEXAN!

Watch Episode 1 on the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail here:

Growing the Texas Olive Oil Industry

Opportunity continues to grow in Texas as described in this recent Houston Chronicle article about the burgeoning olive oil industry.

As mentioned in the story, annual U.S. production of olive oil is 350,000 gallons compared to our annual consumption of nearly 50 million gallons. That means we produce less than 1 percent of what we consume. I see this as a tremendous opportunity for Texas agriculture.

At TDA, we are working to make sure olive growers don’t go at it alone. Through our Specialty Crop Block Grant program, $49,999 went to Texas Tech University (in partnership with the Texas Olive Oil Council) in 2009 to increase olive oil production in Texas.

With help from another $20,000 in federal specialty crop funds, TDA also partnered with the Texas olive oil industry to create a recipe book called, "GO TEXAN Olive Oil Recipes, Savor the Flavors of Texas." The book is available for download at www.GoTexan.org or by e-mail at grow.texan@TexasAgriculture.gov. We also partner with farmers markets, grocery stores and the shrimp and produce industries to conduct retail demonstrations that pair Texas olive oil with other GO TEXAN foods.

I have personally toured Texas olive orchards and met with our cutting edge farmers - their operations are definitely something to see. I encourage you to do the same. For more information, visit the Texas Olive Oil Council at www.texasoliveoilcouncil.org.

"Bienvenidos" to our Guests from Guatemala

Last week, the Guatemalan Vice-Minister of Agriculture Gonzalo Ochaeta made a special visit to Texas. After accepting an invitation by us at the Texas Department of Agriculture to attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Vice-Minister Ochaeta and five Guatemalan delegates toured two GO TEXAN ranches. This gave us an excellent opportunity to market some of the superior livestock and genetics we have here in Texas to producers in Guatemala.

Guatemala has proven to be a valued trading partner with Texas cattlemen. Over the last three years, GO TEXAN livestock members have supplied Guatemalan ranchers with livestock and genetics worth more than $200,000. TDA looks forward to building lasting international relationships and promoting Texas livestock in Latin America.

GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up Chef Showdown

Chief Communications Officer Veronica Obregon had the opportunity to judge the GO TEXAN Chef Showdown on Sept. 30. Here is her guest blog on the delicious Texas meals she sampled for the event.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. Pan Roasted Snapper. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine sure was last night when I joined nine other judges for a GO TEXAN Chef Showdown at the Hyatt. The event was part of the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, the only weeklong statewide dine-out event highlighting Texas farmers, ranchers, local food and restaurants.

The cook-off was a competition among chefs from three Austin hotel restaurants: TRIO at the Four Seasons; Driskill Grill; and Southwest Bistro at the Hyatt. All three chefs had to prepare an appetizer and a main entree with a southwest flare, using ONLY Texas-grown/raised ingredients. And they did a fabulous job!

My favorites included TRIO’s Shrimp Ceviche and Southwest Bistro’s Elderberry Braised Lamb Shanks. But really, every single dish I tried was awesome!

Thank you first to Farm Credit for helping make this year’s GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up a success. And thank you to all of the chefs last night and all other chefs across the state who make it a priority to cook with products grown and raised by Texas farmers and ranchers.

GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up is Sept. 28 - Oct. 2

State Representatives Vicki Truitt, Marc Veasey, Lon Burnam, and Mark Shelton helped me kick off the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up at Eddie V’s in Fort Worth today. This event is the only statewide dine-out event featuring the best of Texas.

Now in its second year, the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up links Texas farmers and ranchers with restaurants that proudly serve Texas ingredients. This year, more than 400 Texas restaurant locations are participating in the Round-Up. Not only is the Round-Up a winner for Texas consumers, it also benefits many area food banks that receive a portion of the proceeds from participating restaurants.

The Round-Up runs from Sept. 28 - Oct 2. Visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov for a restaurant near you. Remember GO OUT. GO EAT. GO TEXAN.

Texas Consumers Want to GO TEXAN

I am always excited to hear about a Texas business deciding to GO TEXAN. Our award-winning GO TEXAN marketing program not only promotes quality Texas products, but also helps local businesses boost their bottom lines.

This article posted on D Magazine’s food and wine blog, “Side Dish” reminded me of how important the GO TEXAN mark really is to Texas consumers. Whether stamped on a product’s package or branded on a banner or sign, the GO TEXAN mark represents the pride and hard work put into every Texas-grown or Texas-made product.

Lone Star State's Finest on Display at the Texas Restaurant Association's Southwest Foodservice Expo

Today, I had the opportunity to visit the Texas Restaurant Association’s Southwest Foodservice Expo and interact with some of the best restaurants and suppliers in Texas.




The expo is a great place for GO TEXAN members to demonstrate their products , and I also had the opportunity to promote the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up and the benefits of GO TEXAN membership. I conveyed to the restaurateurs our message for promoting GO TEXAN restaurants: Go Out, Go Eat, GO TEXAN.



In 2008, the Texas restaurant industry produced direct sales of $34 billion and employed 1,016,300 Texans. The restaurant industry is a key component in promoting Texas as a destination and tourism state, and we thank these entrepreneurs for
their investment in the Lone Star State.

I even had the chance to chat with Dallas Cowboys football legend Herschel Walker. Herschel still lives in Dallas, started his own company and sure seems like the nice guy I always thought he is.