TDA's marketing coordinators in Austin and regional field marketing staff help build recognition for the GO TEXAN brand and promote GO TEXAN members through a wide variety of activities, including:

• Coordinating GO TEXAN promotions at retail stores, festivals and special events across the state.

• Establishing a strong Texas presence at trade shows. GO TEXAN signs, lights, promotional materials and featured activities help draw crowds for the Texas companies exhibiting at the shows.

• Gaining attention for the GO TEXAN brand in the media through press releases, articles and story ideas.

• Drawing consumers to GO TEXAN products using special items such as recipe cards, horticulture brochures, fiber directories and winery maps.

The GO TEXAN Products Program is divided into the following categories:

TexasAgriculture.gov

Fiber
Cotton, wool, mohair, leather, alpaca, suede and more.
Contact: Mary York
mary.york@TexasAgriculture.gov
(512) 463-8289

Food
From salsa to sausage, ice cream to refried beans, and sweets to smoked meats.
Contact: Sarah Riggins
sarah.riggins@TexasAgriculture.gov
(512) 475-1663

Horticulture, Forestry and Produce
From plants, flowers and trees to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Contact: Richard De Los Santos
richard.delossantos@TexasAgriculture.gov
(512) 463-7472

Livestock
Marketing Texas livestock and livestock genetics to buyers around the globe.
Contact: Amanda Lyles
amanda.lyles@TexasAgriculture.gov
(512) 463-7560 

Shrimp
Fresh from Texas
Contact: Alyssa Herold
alyssa.herold@TexasAgriculture.gov
www.txshrimp.org
(512) 463-8353

Wine
Toast a rising star
Contact: Bobby Champion Jr.
robert.champion@TexasAgriculture.gov
www.gotexanwine.org
(512) 475-3303

GO TEXAN also includes international marketing staff who help businesses promote their Texas products to a worldwide audience.

Thanks to hardworking Texas farmers and ranchers, our state produces a diverse array of food — from fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy products, nuts and honey to poultry, pork, seafood, lamb and beef. But that's just the beginning. Innovative entrepreneurs and manufacturers across the state daily transform those ingredients into an abundant collection of products — from salsa to sausage, ice cream to refried beans and sweets to smoked meats.

Suffice it to say that food is a big industry in Texas; and food marketing is a big deal at the Texas Department of Agriculture.

TDA's Food Marketing program, along with regional field marketing staff, helps build recognition for GO TEXAN and Texas foods through a wide variety of activities, including:

• Coordinating GO TEXAN promotions at retail grocery stores, food fairs and festivals across the state. These events feature samplings and demonstrations of Texas foods and are promoted through press releases, GO TEXAN signs and promotional materials.
• Establishing a strong Texas presence at state and national trade shows. GO TEXAN signs, lights, promotional materials and special activities help draw crowds for the Texas companies exhibiting at the show.
• Spotlighting Texas foods through regular mail-outs to food editors at newspapers, blogs and magazines across the state with articles, recipes and story ideas for Texas products.
• Linking buyers interested in Texas food products with the GO TEXAN members that produce them.

For more information on TDA's Food Marketing Program and promotional opportunities, contact Sarah Riggins, state marketing coordinator for food, at (512) 475-1663 or sarah.riggins@TexasAgriculture.gov. For information on GO TEXAN food promotions in your area, contact your local TDA regional marketing office.

Texas dominates the fiber market as the leading producer of cotton, mohair and wool. Fiber from Texas is shipped internationally to be made into a variety of end-use products — from canvas used for ships' sails and sewing thread to high-fashion wool and mohair fabrics used in the most elegant of fashions by today's top designers.

Texas fiber market bragging rights don't stop there. The Lone Star State is also the leader in organic cotton production, and is one of only a handful of states that supply this commodity to the rapidly expanding market for organically produced fiber. And, as a top livestock producer, Texas generates a variety of hides, which are made into numerous leather products.

The Texas Department of Agriculture helps market and promote this vital industry through its Fiber Marketing program, which is dedicated to the following activities:

• Linking buyers interested in Texas fiber products with the GO TEXAN members that produce them.
• Establishing a strong Texas presence at markets and trade shows with TDA booths that provide information on Texas fiber producers and their products.
• Providing useful resources for producers and buyers to increase purchases of Texas fiber, including the Wool and Mohair Directory and the Texas Leather and Hide Merchant Guide.
• Coordinating GO TEXAN fiber promotions at openings and other exclusive events.
• Developing and disseminating promotional materials designed to spotlight Texas natural fibers.

For more information on TDA's Fiber Marketing program and promotional opportunities, contact Mary York, state marketing coordinator for fiber, at (512) 463-8289 or mary.york@TexasAgriculture.gov.

One look at the incredible impact horticulture has on the Texas economy and it's easy to see why it's so important to root for this growing industry. Horticulture is the state's fourth-leading agricultural commodity and Texans produce enough plants, flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses to make Texas the nation's third-largest horticultural producer. According to recent figures, the total value of this industry tops $1.4 billion.

Texas is also home to a thriving forestry industry that provides wood and paper products vital to the Texas economy and the everyday lives of consumers across the nation. Texas timber has a value of more than $800 million a year.

Texas-grown produce also has an impressive economic impact on the state. In 2008, the production value of the Texas vegetable industry was $481 million with the top three vegetables being onions, cabbage and watermelon. In 2008, the Texas citrus industry had a production value of $32.5 million, the pecan industry had a value of $41.7 million and the peach industry had a value of $13.2 million.

The Texas Department of Agriculture helps market and promote these three vital industries through its Horticulture, Forestry and Produce Marketing Program. The program is an integral part of TDA's GO TEXAN campaign spotlighting Texas agricultural products. TDA's Horticulture, Forestry and Produce Marketing program helps promote Texas producers in a number of ways, including:

• GO TEXAN promotions at Texas nurseries, garden centers and retailers, encouraging shoppers to pick Texas first by identifying Texas-grown selections.
• TDA booths at trade shows, special events and gardening festivals, providing information on Texas growers and their products.
• Promotional materials such as GO TEXAN seed packets, bookmarks, posters, plant tags and flower vases.
• Published articles and columns on Texas-grown plants, flowers, trees, shrubs and grasses.
• Educational and marketing materials such as manuals, directories, guides and brochures.

For more information on TDA's Horticulture and Forestry Marketing program, contact Richard De Los Santos, state marketing coordinator for horticulture and forestry at (512) 463-7472 or richard.delossantos@TexasAgriculture.gov.

There's no denying that Texas is a giant in agricultural production. Texas has the resources to bring buyers and sellers together and facilitate the export of livestock and livestock genetics to destinations around the globe. The experience, dedication, and expertise of Texas livestock producers have made Texas the trusted worldwide leader in livestock production.

Livestock buyers know that when seeking quality, variety and abundance, Texas is the place to be. Texas is also ideally situated for the export of livestock, semen and embryos. With easy access to all of Latin America via the Mexican border, as well as an export facility at Houston Inter-Continental Airport that easily services Asian markets, Texas offers buyers excellent distribution channels.

With more than 30 years' experience, TDA's Livestock Marketing Program is the longest running program of its kind in the United States. No matter what type of Texas livestock you are selling or searching for, TDA's livestock marketing staff is available to help you find what you need. Providing exceptional personal assistance, TDA's bilingual livestock marketing specialists are a source of referrals and information, and can even assist in coordinating buying trips for ranchers and others in the market for purebred commercial livestock genetics. TDA livestock marketing specialists can do everything from arranging itineraries and meeting buyers at the airport to escorting them to Texas ranches, serving as guides and translators.

TDA's livestock marketing specialists also offer vital industry knowledge and provide you with information and support. For more information on TDA's livestock marketing efforts, contact Amanda Lyles at (512) 463-7560 or amanda.lyles@TexasAgriculture.gov.