In 2004, PA Department of Agriculture launched PA Preferred to identify and promote food and agricultural products grown, produced, and processed in Pennsylvania. In 2011, the PA Preferred Act became law, and officially named PA Preferred® as Pennsylvania's statewide branding program for local foods and farms.
Pennsylvania is home to 7.7 million acres of land in farms with the average farm size of 133 acres.
Commonwealth boasts 57,900 farms, 97% of which are family-owned.
The mission of PA Preferred is to create opportunities for Pennsylvanians to easily identify and purchase locally grown and processed items, which in turn benefits Pennsylvania's farmers, agribusinesses and economy. It is to provide farmers and agribusinesses with a brand identity for the products they grow and produce. It is to assure consumers that when they purchase products with the PA Preferred logo, they are directly supporting Pennsylvania farmers.
