PARTNER NEWSLETTER February 2024
CHAMPION SPONSORS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
GO TEXAN
GO TEXAN turns 25 in 2024! GO TEXAN is celebrating our 25th Birthday all year long! Celebrate with us by submitting a happy birthday video for our social media accounts, joining the GO TEXAN e-commerce site to be featured in our birthday catalogue or License the mark to feature ON your certified products.
GO TEXAN Catalogue Register now to sell your products on shop.gotexan.org! GO TEXAN will create a birthday catalogue and showcase one product per company in the publication. Current partners already on the e-commerce site will be automatically featured. By registering your products for sale on the site, you will automatically be included in this promotional catalog. Don't miss this FREE opportunity- sign up here! Birthday Video Example Script: "Happy 25th birthday, GO TEXAN!" Video Guidelines: Film vertically (camera at the top!) Film in a well-lit environment without noise Video should be less than 10 seconds long Hold phone steady or prop it up to avoid shaky video Email your video submissions to gotexancreative@gmail.com with your business name and "birthday video" in the subject. Due date: ASAP. Licensing the GO TEXAN Mark Have you ever wanted to use the GO TEXAN Mark on your certified products (such as those pictured below?) Well, GO TEXAN will license the mark to active GO TEXAN partners for such use for a small one time fee ($50 application + $1,000 royalty). Contact Lindsay.Baerwald@TexasAgriculture.gov for this opportunity.
GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
2024 Fiery Food Challenge
What: 27th Fiery Food Challenge When: Judging May 20-22, 2024 Where: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX The Fiery Food Challenge (FFC) is the most recognized and prestigious blind tasting competition of zesty products in the industry. In addition to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, all winning companies receive 1,000 FFC winner labels for placement on their honored products. Companies worldwide are invited to participate in the quest for the coveted first place Golden Chile award. Awards are announced and presented the first evening of ZestFest. You do not have to exhibit at ZestFest to enter, but the deadline for receipt of entries is May 3, 2024. Contact June DeRousse at 210-882-0952 or june@zestfest.net for the FFC entry form. GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
ZestFest 2024
What: ZestFest 2024 When: May 24-26, 2024 Where: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall, Fort Worth, TX GO TEXAN Partners are invited to participate as food vendors at the 22nd Annual ZestFest 2024, featuring the spiciest exhibitors and products around the country for one sizzling weekend. Over the years, ZestFest has averaged a weekend attendance of 10,000 zesty food lovers -- tasting and buying their food favorites. GO TEXAN partners receive a $100 discount on any standard booth making the discounted price for a 10’x10’ booth $840. They are also offering a limited number of 6’x10’ booths for $578. Exhibitors will receive the following in combination with the booth purchase: health department permits, 2 complimentary tickets to the Fiery Food Challenge Awards banquet on Friday evening, skirted table, 2 chairs, waste basket, washing station and identification sign. Contact June DeRousse at 210-882-0952 or june@zestfest.net to book your discounted GO TEXAN booth. Don’t delay! Booths are booking daily on a first come first served basis.
GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
Save the Date: Final Rodeo Application and State Fair!
Save the Date
Save-the-Date for upcoming applications for GO TEXAN partners to sample and sell in the GO TEXAN area at the following events: San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo - noon on 2/14/2024 GO TEXAN Pavilion at the State Fair of Texas: TIER 2+, noon on March 6, 2024 All Partners: noon on March 20, 2024 Application links will be sent via email as well as posted in the GO TEXAN partners Facebook Group. Please make sure the email you have listed on your account is one you check regularly. And always check your SPAM folder.
Food and Wine Pairings: Recipes Needed! Uncork Texas Wines, the wine marketing program at the Texas Department of Agriculture, is looking for the perfect food pairings for Texas wines. Do you have a great appetizer, entrée, or dessert recipe that uses your GO TEXAN product that you are willing to share? Selected recipes will be paired with a Texas wine and will debut in 2024 Uncork Texas Wine marketing promos. Send Recipes to Anisa Elizondo: Anisa.Elizondo@TexasAgriculture.gov.
January Partner Meeting Recording TO VIEW THE RECORDING CLICK HERE
During our first quarterly meeting of 2024, we discussed GO TEXAN’s 25th Birthday Celebration and how you can be a part of it. We also announced State Fair sign-up dates, new features on the GO TEXAN ecommerce site and heard from guest speaker, Chloe Bertrand, Digital Media Specialist, for the GO TEXAN program. GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
Resili ent Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting applications for the federally funded Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program, for projects that support the expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry. Equipment-Only Grants will only be eligible to cover the cost of purchasing equipment and awards may range from $10,000 - $100,000. Infrastructure Grants may include equipment, training, construction/renovations, or personnel costs. Infrastructure awards may range from $100,000 to $3,000,000. Please refer to TDA’s website for more information and the application instructions: Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program.
2024 GO TEXAN Survey TDA would like your feedback on the GO TEXAN Program! This information will help us understand your business marketing needs and ensure our benefits and services continue to be impactful. The survey should take approximately 12 minutes. As a thank you for completing the survey, we are offering all respondents a $50 off coupon code that can be applied to the GO TEXAN Pavilion at the State Fair of Texas. You will receive an email with the $50 off coupon code once survey participation is confirmed. This coupon code will be active in 2024 for the following: State Fair of Texas General Store shelving, Retail Porches, Pop Up Porches, and Sampling kiosks.
To complete the survey and take advantage of this opportunity, please click HERE.
GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
GO TEXAN Product Photography Have you ever wanted professional grade photos of your product? Submit up to five products and TDA will provide you with high resolution, high quality pictures you can use to market your products...FREE of charge. Please click here to read more about this opportunity.
An Instagram takeover is the process of sharing content on someone else’s Instagram account temporarily. Instagram takeovers are an incredible way for brands, individuals and influencers to collaborate and cross-promote content. Instagram takeovers offer a novel way for us to engage with our partners while increasing your brand awareness and promoting your products. It gives our readers a unique look into our partner's companies and what it’s like to run their business. If this is something you are interested in learning more about, contact us at GOTEXAN@TexasAgriculture.gov.
GO TEXAN TIER Change Form Looking to change your GO TEXAN Account TIER? Upgrading to
Tier
II
and
Enhancement
higher
Grant
gives
you
Assistance
access
(MEGA),
to
Marketing
priority
event
registration and much more! This can be done at any time throughout the year. At renewal time, if your business needs have changed and you need to lower your partnership level we can help with that too! GO TEXAN TIER Change Form GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
Southern U.S. Trade Association (SUSTA) SUSTA coordinates US Pavilions at major trade shows around the world. Even Better…businesses can get reimbursed up to 50% of eligible expenses such as international travel to shows, advertising, freight, in-store demonstrations and so much more through the 50% Cost Share Program. SUSTA is FREE to join, so let us help you get your products out there! Contact Nikki Jackson (512) 486-9317 or email GoGlobal@texasagriculture.gov for more information.
Upcoming SUSTA Events Anuga Select Brazil and Outbound Trade Mission Trade Show & Outbound - Sao Paulo, Brazil The Texas Department of Agriculture invites you to participate in ANUGA SELECT Brazil and outbound trade mission from April 8-11, 2024. This mission will include participation in the ANUGA trade show, a market briefing from the US Embassy, retail tours, and scheduled one-on-one meetings with Brazilian buyers. WHO: Juices, Condiments, Snacks, Tree Nuts, Dairy, Confectionary, Poultry, Wine REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 7, 2024
SIAL China 2024 Trade Show - Shanghai, China The Texas Department of Agriculture invites you to participate in SIAL China from May 28-30, 2024. This trade show is a great opportunity to meet with a diverse array of global suppliers from across the Asian market. WHO: Value-Added Food, Sauces, Seasonings, Dairy, Nuts, Organic Foods, Juices/Other Beverages REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 28, 2024
Interested?? Contact Nikki Jackson (512) 486-9317 or email GoGlobal@texasagriculture.gov for more information. GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
2024 Texas Restaurant Show - San Antonio
GO TEXAN and the Texas Restaurant Association are collaborating to present a GO TEXAN Pavilion during the 2024 Texas Restaurant Show! The Show brings together the vibrant Texas restaurant community. With 500 booths showcasing leading innovators in products and services, alongside 3-days of educational sessions led by industry professionals and business leaders, the Show offers its 5,000+ attendees valuable information, data, and insights to enhance operations and profitability for single-unit restaurants and multi-chain franchises. GO TEXAN booths are being offered for only $2,000 (normally $3,400). For more information or to book a GO TEXAN booth visit this link. GO TEXAN NEWS | February 2024
Your GO TEXAN Field Representatives
1. J.D. Lawrence (915) 249-9844
6. Kristin Lambrecht (713) 677-9321
2. Briann Schenk (806) 386-9139
7. Jami McCool (210) 708-1713
3. Neely Kirkland (214) 809-5534
8. Kara Smith (956) 502-6817
4. Darrell Dean (214) 938-0067
9. Carol Faulkenberry (254) 592-1507
5. Manuel Martinez (713) 677-9814
10. Lauren Moore (254) 340-7046