By Melanie Jackson, FAPC Communications Assistant

(Stillwater, Okla. – March 28, 2017) Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products center is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and Made in Oklahoma Month by participating in Made in Oklahoma Day at OSU.

Hosted by University Dining Services and the Made in Oklahoma Coalition, the event will take place on April 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Student Union North Porch Lower.

“FAPC works and is in contact with Made in Oklahoma companies on a daily basis and helps local companies enter the market,” said Andrea Graves, FAPC business planning and marketing specialist. “It just seemed like a logical fit for FAPC and University Dining Services to work together. It is a great opportunity for both OSU and Made in Oklahoma companies.”

FAPC will have a booth at MIO Day at OSU to distribute 20-year themed cupcakes to attendees.

A part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the center supports the food industry by offering businesses, producers and entrepreneurs access to expertise in business and technical disciplines to stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural products and processing Oklahoma.

“Since its inception in 1997, FAPC has assisted more than 1,000 Oklahoma clients through 3,000 technical and business projects,” said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director. “Working side-by-side with Made in Oklahoma companies to support Made in Oklahoma Month is a great way to honor this achievement and celebrate 20 years of adding value to Oklahoma.”

FAPC has worked with University Dining Services for the past eight years to provide more locally made and grown food on campus and promote Made in Oklahoma companies.

The focus is to promote more Made in Oklahoma companies, offer their products into campus dining locations and catering services, and introduce the companies and products to OSU students, faculty and staff.

“Optimizing food and nutrition through local products educates students on foods produced in the state of Oklahoma and encourages entrepreneurship for local businesses,” said Vedda Hsu, University Dining Services associate director.

Oklahoma companies representing the Made in Oklahoma Coalition will distribute complimentary samples of products during MIO Day at OSU, including meat, desserts, beverages and condiments. The companies include Ace in the Bowl, Advance Pierre, Bar-S Foods, Game On Salsa, Griffin Foods, Head Country, KiZE Concepts, Mountain View Meat Co., My Bigmama’s Kitchen, Ozarka Water, Ralph’s Packing Co., Schwab & Company and Woody Candy Co.

Graduate student Reni Nguyen, University Dining Services assistant manager of Twenty Something on-campus convenience store and one of the organizers of MIO Day at OSU, said this event is always well received by OSU students, faculty and staff.

“University Dining Services is currently working with more than 40 Oklahoma companies,” Nguyen said. “We will continue to introduce and offer various MIO products to students, so we can increase their awareness on local food products.”

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.