PIERRE, SD - The SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef Initiative is beefing up its consumer marketing as the program moves forward. The website, southdakotacertifiedbeef.com, will now focus on informing consumers about where they can purchase the product and the benefits of buying SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef.

“This new focus on consumers marks real progress for SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef,” said Jafar Karim, director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “First, we needed to set a strong foundation of trained, certified beef producers and processors in South Dakota. Now that this premium product is available to the public, we’re focusing on selling it to consumers. Recruiting and training processors will continue to be a priority, but we’re ready to help get the message out to customers.”

The website now offers extensive information about where to purchase SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef, nutritional facts, and meal ideas. “A searchable database allows consumers to easily identify SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef retailers in their area,” said Karim. “Our new site features first-class recipes, including several award winning recipes from the National Beef Cook-Off ®. Visitors to the site can sign up for email updates that will include tips on how to prepare beef, health benefit facts, and notifications of new producers and opportunities to buy the beef.”

February marked more success for the Initiative as seven more processors completed the training program and three new South Dakota locations started serving or selling the beef. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture are working with marketers and retailers across the state to promote the program.

“People who have tasted this beef say it’s the best beef they have ever had,” said Secretary of Agriculture Larry Gabriel. “We’re excited to make it available to consumers.”

SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef is the vision of Governor Rounds. The concept for this program was incorporated into the state’s 2010 Initiative, a long-term plan for tourism and economic development in South Dakota.