Crouch appoints Indiana Grown commission members

INDIANAPOLIS — Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announced the appointments for the Indiana Grown Initiative Commission.

These 12 members will provide guidance and direction to the staff of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture who will be responsible for connecting businesses that use or sell agricultural products such as restaurants, grocers, wholesalers, processors and farmers markets with Indiana-based producers of meat, fruits, vegetables, wine and forest products.

“The goal of this commission is to ensure we are representing the voices of the over 1,800 members of the Indiana Grown community,” said Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s secretary of agriculture and rural development. “I am grateful to be working side by side with Hoosiers who represent all the different areas of Indiana’s agriculture industry.”

The director of the ISDA will chair the commission and will be joined by a representative from Purdue University.

The 10 commission members are:

• Natasha Cox — Farm Credit Mid-America

• Mike Hoopengardner — Indiana Farm Bureau

• Mayasari Effendi — Mayasari Tempeh

• Jeff Bricker — Ivy Tech Community College

• Nicky Nolot — Tolon Restaurant

• Rachel Boyer — Rachel’s Taste of Indiana

• Marcus Agresta — Piazza Produce

• Leigh Rowan — Fort Wayne Farmer’s Market

• Gina Johnson — Madison Farmer’s Market

• Jennifer Rubenstein — Edible Indy

The first Indiana Grown commission meeting will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 25 on the first floor of 1 North Capital, Indianapolis. This meeting is open to the public.

“Indiana Grown is excited to have these commission members representing Indiana agriculture and values,” said Caroline Patrick, director of Indiana Grown. “These members are volunteering their time and skills to the commission, and we are thankful to have their expertise help develop the Indiana Grown program further.”

Learn more about Indiana Grown at indianagrown.org.