'PA Preferred' program showcases state foods at Farm Show

(Harrisburg) -- A program at the heart of the Pennsylvania Farm Show is part of a push to encourage people to eat foods grown or made in the commonwealth.

The PA Preferred initiative puts a blue and gold checkmark and keystone logo on certain products with Pennsylvania origins.

Coordinator Brian Keister says the marketing effort helps the state's 63,000 family farms and related small businesses.

"When you purchase local products, you're helpings strengthen our economy," Keister says. "If every household in Pennsylvania spent $10 a week on PA Preferred products, $2.9 billion dollars would be reinvested back into the state."

Keister says PA Preferred has promoted a food theme for each day of the Farm Show -- like apple day or beef and veal day.

He says more than 50 cooking demos are scheudled to show off Pennsylvania products at the event.

The demonstrations promoting the state's largest industry run through the end of the Farm Show on Saturday.