INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): The state program to promote locally-grown products has its first retail partner.

Marsh will display the “Indiana Grown” logo in printed circulars and on social media, and will set aside kiosks for Indiana foods in 50 Hoosier stores. Chief merchandising officer Dave Kuncl says the partnership will boost both the Indiana economy and Marsh's business. He says more and more people, especially younger shoppers, are keenly interested in where their food comes from, and have a clear preference for small local producers over giant conglomerates. 

State agriculture director Ted McKinney says Kroger will join the effort soon, and says Meijer and Wal-Mart are considering it. He says the next step is to recruit restaurants, especially those which promote farm-to-table ingredients. 

Next summer, he says, the state will reach out to farmers' markets to display the logo on produce.