The GO TEXAN Program Celebrates 25 Years of Supporting Texas Producers
In partnership with: Texas Department of Agriculture
GO TEXAN, a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) initiative, marked 25 years of supporting the diversity and quality of Texas-based businesses. Thanks to the program’s recognizable certification mark, customers can easily leverage their purchasing power and buy local.
“The GO TEXAN program has empowered Texas producers and allowed consumers to make informed choices about supporting local businesses,” Commissioner Sid Miller says. “It’s more than just a brand, it’s a way to promote products and services that are Texas made and Texas proud. I take great pride in the program’s accomplishments and its enduring impact on the state’s agricultural landscape.”
A retailer with more than 430 locations in Texas and Mexico, H-E-B is the largest marketer of GO TEXAN products. H-E-B is also the program’s champion sponsor.
“We’re passionate about where we’re from, and our love for all things Texan is also found in the products we make,” says Jody Hall, H-E-B’s vice president of sourcing. “At H-E-B, you’ll find the spirit of Texas is in everything we do, and that’s why we work with local growers and manufacturers to bring Texans the best quality, freshest products.”
That passion is a common denominator. Still, GO TEXAN boasts a broad partnership base inclusive of farmers and ranchers, as well as restaurants, retailers, manufacturers and other sectors.
Partnership Matters
“GO TEXAN represents a wide array of products, from traditional farming goods to innovative agricultural technologies, embodying the spirit of Texas in every aspect,” says Lindsay Baerwald, TDA’s director for marketing and outreach.
GO TEXAN provides benefits, like marketing support, grant opportunities, retail promotions, events and revenue generators to more than 1,900 partners.
“When customers see the GO TEXAN mark on a product, they feel more confident purchasing the product by knowing it’s made by Texans and supports our state’s culture,” says Mike Niebuhr, food service manager at Blue Bell Creameries, one of the 100 businesses participating since the program’s inception. Blue Bell sells goods in 23 states. However, the brand, which references Texas’ iconic bluebell wildflower, never wavers from its roots.
Customers aren’t wavering either.
“Surveys show that consumers are more likely to purchase products they know are made in Texas versus out of state,” Baerwald says.
India Hearne, owner of Whiski Designs, attests.
“For as long as I can remember, my family has shopped for GO TEXAN products in grocery stores and the GO TEXAN General Store at the State Fair of Texas,” Hearne says. “The GO TEXAN mark has always been something I’ve sought out to support.”
When she opened her own business, which features hand lettering, graphic design and Texas-themed items, she immediately pursued certification.
Among other benefits, Hearne utilizes the GO TEXAN digital marketplace to sell Whiski Designs’ products. Exclusively offering GO TEXAN brands, the e-commerce platform launched in 2020 to create a new revenue stream.
To date, the site has tallied $37,000 in sales.
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A Label Means Local
Brett Christoffel, CEO of All Y’alls Foods, says his plant-based protein company integrates the GO TEXAN mark on its website and social media, in addition to packaging, in-store sampling events and at festivals.
“It’s imperative that TDA foster support for the state’s businesses involved in one form or another of agriculture to aid in their growth and exposure to folks here in Texas and around the world,” Christoffel says. “And they do that every year to the best of their ability.”
See more: Top 10 Texas Agriculture Products
Veronica Westlake, owner of La Casita Hot Sauce, agrees that GO TEXAN proves its worth, building pipelines for growth, networking and returns.
“It is not hard to leverage the power of GO TEXAN and execute a successful business campaign by taking advantage of the countless marketing opportunities that showcase products and build brand awareness,” Westlake says. “Commissioner Miller wants each member to be successful. He’s readily available to help support small business entrepreneurs, such as myself, because he cares about the welfare of growing a strong Texas economy.”
To help celebrate the 25th anniversary, consumers may enter for a chance to win GO TEXAN products by entering the monthly giveaways in 2024 on the program’s Instagram @gotexan.
To learn more about the GO TEXAN program and find additional certified products, visit gotexan.org.