Montana’s Choice Grocery Events Planned in May, June throughout Montana

Food, fun and a celebration of Montana-made products will all be part of the Montana’s Choice kickoff, Friday, May 9, 2003, at 10 a.m. in the Van’s Thriftway, 306 Euclid Avenue in Helena.

Additional in-store promotions to celebrate Montana food products are scheduled throughout May and June in grocery stores in Butte, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula, Kalispell, Billings and Miles City.

The Helena kickoff will feature Governor Judy Martz opening the promotion and hosting the Montana’s Choice Celebrity Shopping Spree. The spree participants, including Shane Johnson, reporter from KTVH Channel 12; Kurt Kittelson, program director of Big Kick 104 and morning personality on the Southwestern Montana Radio Network; and Adrienna Hines, beef issues coordinator from the Montana Stockgrowers Association, will race through the store and find all of the Montana products available.

Products collected during the spree will be donated to the Helena Food Share’s Postal Food Drive.

Montana food will be available for sampling throughout the day, including beef jerky, tamales, water, honey, sausages and bread. The public is invited to attend the entire event, listen to the governor and sample Montana products.

Given the choice, Montanans choose to support Montana products, says Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture. With the Montana’s Choice program, consumers will now know where to find Montana food on their local grocery stores’ shelves.

The Montana’s Choice program was developed by the Montana Department of Agriculture to increase sales of the state’s agricultural products. To accomplish this, the Montana’s Choice logo identifies Montana-made products on grocery store shelves so that the state’s residents can incorporate Montana foods into their everyday purchases.

Similar kickoff events in other Montana cities are scheduled at:

* Bozeman – May 17 at County Market Vans, 912 N 7th Ave.;

* Missoula – May 24 at Albertson’s Food & Drug, 3800 S Russell St.;

* Butte – May 31 at Albertson’s Food & Drug, 1301 Harrison Ave.;

* Billings – June 7 at County Market Central, 1030 Central Ave.;

* Miles City – June 8 at County Market, 715 S Haynes Ave., Miles City;

* Great Falls – June 14 at Albertson’s Food & Drug, 1414 3 NW Bypass; and

* Kalispell – June 28 at Tidyman’s, 55 1st Ave. East N.

More than 400 food companies in Montana produce everything from hot dogs, fudge and spices to condiments, bottled beverages and pasta, says Angelyn DeYoung, marketing specialist for the Montana Department of Agriculture.

Montana companies wishing to participate in the promotion are urged to contact the department. For additional information, including questions about the kickoff events, contact Angelyn DeYoung at 406-444-2402, or by email at [email protected].