a century,” said Brandon Lawshe, farm management analyst for Ritter Agribusiness. “The Arkansas Grown logo brings a lot of value to our brand and it fits well with our story.” The Diamond level is the top tier of membership in Arkansas Grown. Since 2012, Arkansas Grown has been administered through the Arkansas Agriculture Department and helps promote the many agricultural products that are grown in Arkansas. The program is often used to help make the critical connection between producers and consumers. “Consumers like to know their products are locally grown,” said Lawshe. “We like promoting Arkansas and the consumer likes seeing Arkansas Grown, so it’s a win-win.” Over time, Ritter will be selling its branded products to both wholesale and retail establishments. The business will continue to lease land to farmers for row crops, but the specialty crops will be a direct farming operation. “Serving the rural community continues to be important to the descendants of Ernest Ritter. We’ve owned and operated lots of businesses in rural Arkansas, but our focus on farming is a big part of the heritage and passion of the family,” said Wright. The company will continue to support the farming community by creating yet another powerful Ritter brand that will honor that legacy and stand the test of time. 30 ARKANSAS GROWN
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