Utah's own makes the difference for state's homegrown products.

In addition to taste, Colosimo's contributes to Utah's economy, Paul points out. At the height of the season last year, the company employed 45 people. "When you go out to shop and you buy from Utah companies, your dollar stays in the state. And because your dollar stays in the state, it's more effective. It's paying wages, it's paying for lawyers and accountants and advertising companies and all those guys are here spending money, so the dollar goes round and round and round in the state of Utah."

Colosimo's is "the environmental choice," he says, because his competition is shipped from Wisconsin, Tennessee and New York. "Now, does that make environmental sense, to ship product from New York to Utah? Especially when there's a local company making it? If you care at all about the environment, you should be buying food from within 50 miles of home."

With that reasoning, he adds, it makes sense to expand Colosimo's market to the surrounding states, a venture he thinks Utah's Own could help with. "Could Utah's Own, through state assistance, through the Governor's Office of Economic Development, through small business loans, or through some sort of angel investor also have an arm that funnels money responsibly to incubator companies? What I've done in Utah comes with underlying facilities and cost, but to branch into other states just needs the cost of promotion. That's where my company could use the help going forward."

Exporting Utah products to other states would benefit Utah in a way similar to the tourism industry, he says. "Now I'm importing dollars to the state, just like the tourist industry, but with one big advantage: I'm not bringing the bodies here. I'm just bringing the money here. Ultimately, I should be in the surrounding states of Utah and I should be importing dollars into the state of Utah."

Such a state program would not only benefit him, but others, he says. Colisomo's fills a niche market and acts as a small economic engine in Utah, but "there are other companies like me in an incubator status, if you will. People like to think of high-tech because there's so much potential in high-tech, but there's also potential in low-tech. There are hundreds of small engines like me out there. You just never know who's going to be the next Stephen's Gourmet Cocoa. So that's the beauty of the Utah's Own program."

For Jarrod Weeks of Weeks Berries of Paradise, the relationship Utah's Own has with Associated Foods is one of the program's biggest boons.

Weeks Berries grows fresh berries, which it sells at roadside stands and farmer's markets, but it also produces jam, juice and syrup - products that are suitable for grocery shelves.

"As a small company, it's really hard to get into the groceries," he says. "The ties Utah's Own has with Associated Foods really helps get our foot in the door, which is something all companies need. Utah's Own has probably helped us double our grocery outlets. We didn't have a presence in Utah County before, and now we're in all the Macey's there."

For Phil Rowley at South Ridge Farms in Santaquin, "Utah's Own helps...when people stop into our store. We have a lot of out-of-state people that are looking for something local, and when they see the Utah's Own label on a product, that helps."

RELATED ARTICLE: Utah's Own Food Court

The Utah State Fair returned to its roots by partnering with Utah's Own companies, giving fair goers a chance to fill their plate with food products originating in Utah.

Rick Frenette, Executive Director of the Utah State Fair, has been instrumental in creating a "local" atmosphere at the fair.

In 2006 the Utah's Own Food Court was born and it has continued to gain steam by offering traditional fair treats like Richard's Round Up BBQ and Spotted Dog Ice Cream, as well as some original items like Chaparro's Tamales and Colosimo's Sausage. The Utah's Own Food Court has been a hit with fair goers of all ages, and promises to continue educating consumers on the value of buying local.

Josh Allen

Store Director of the Year

The first Utah's Own Store Director of the Year Award was presented to Josh Allen, Store Director at Macey's in Pleasant Grove, at the 2007 Associated Food Stores Food Show. This award is given annually to the store director providing the most support to individual Utah's Own companies and the Utah's Own program as a whole.

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Josh's willingness to promote new Utah's Own products as well as participate in joint me dia activities made him an obvious choice. His enthusiasm has infected each Macey's Pleasant Grove employee with a commitment to help see Utah's Own succeed, and he continues to find new ways to support the program.

"Our food system has untapped potential to be a driver of long-term and sustainable economic prosperity."

-Jed Christenson,Utah's Own