It is interesting to see a world class cheesy ad campaign wasted on SC Produce. The agency that came up with this crap should be on Madison Avenue and not in Columbia wasting taxpayers dollars to tell us to buy SC or else.

If you go to the SC Grown web page you see lots of farmers listed. So where does the public buy their produce? I don’t know? At the local grocery store? At the farmers market ? No … I think they ship most their produce out of state to get a better price, or they may have roadside stands but this is not mentioned. The only recent fresh produce I have seen in stores that says SC Grown, have been peaches. So if I want to buy SC Grown blueberries where are they? Maybe they need to list grocery store and what they have that is SC Grown.

I also went to a related program called “Fresh on the Menu”. Whow ! So if I want to go to a restaurant in Columbia or Charleston I would immediately think to go to the SC Ag website to find a restaurant. NOT! And when I actually clicked on a few restaurants I could not find one that says SC Grown Blueberry Pie, or anything relating to SC Fresh. Did someone forget to mention this to the 218 restaurants listed.

I am all for buying local fresh grown produce, who in the “hell” wouldn’t be. But when the local stores get local produce and up the price to make a bigger margin that defeats the whole idea.

Now I head form the SCETV program” Making It Grow” that the Ag Dept. is promoting SC Grown onions to compete with Vidalia in stores. Do we grow onions here, or is this another ad campaign in the works to spend more money, more money.

The point I want to make is this.

If we, as conservatives, go after every growth related program we are killing what we hope to build. I worked under Ronald Reagan (when he was Governor of California)…another “Theatre Type” (hehe…careful there Fitsnews!! hehe) who was one of the smartest and keenest conservative minds I’ve ever met. I know how the media like to portray Reagan…but I swear to you…the man was a genius. Well read in conservative thought and he had a lazer like wit.

My reason for bringing that up is a conversation he had with myself and a few others one afternoon. He said…and I’ll never forget this “We are conservatives, that doesn’t mean we are stingy and short-sighted” “The difference between the democrats and us is not one of love of the people but one of love of those peoples future. We must continue to find ways to invest tax moneys in ways so we can lower taxes tomorrow. That is growth”.

I research the activity of my government. I have done this ever since I returned from two tours of duty in Vietnam. I do this because I love this government and its people. I have to tell you…this small campaign is being done on pennies. I attended a rally out of curiosity and what I saw were businesses coming together with a solution to help our local population. Cheaply. Cost effectively.

We can’t be the party of “nonono” always. Believe me when I say there are much bigger fish to fry. Look to the real waste. Look to how we mismanage money in our schools and public works. Look to how we waste money in meaningless research and bloated federal programs. There you focus would best be served Fitsnews.

I wish you the best in your on-line mission. I just ask that you maybe read a little more history and understand your party a little more.

-Fred Altwater

God Bless the GOP!

Great statistics on how successful New Jersey’s program was. We all know how folks are just waiting in line to move to New Jersey for it’s low tax environment and how well the state has handled it’s finances. If this “promtional branding program” is so phenomenally effective, why haven’t you and you compatriots at the co-op already invested your own money in such a program?

I respect all those in the agricultural industry for their willingness to take on both the challenges of the market and the unpredictable variations of the weather. You are to be commended for your efforts, and the outstanding results.

I agree with the Will’s basic objection, that the government has no right to take my money to promote your industry, or vice versa!

Blah, blah, blah. If it’s that big a business, then it should be able to take care of itself.

Seriously, nothing wrong with eating SC products – or encouraging people to eat SC products – but government shouldn’t be in the marketing business for one industry at the expense of another.

-FITS