The mission of the Marketing Division is to raise public awareness of Arkansas agricultural products, the role of the Plant Board in Arkansas agriculture and to facilitate contacts between producers and potential consumers.

The Marketing Division’s responsibilities can be broken down into four main categories.

1. Working to aid in the marketing of Arkansas agricultural products.
2. Raising the public’s awareness of the Plant Board and it’s role in Arkansas Agriculture.
3. Coordinating Plant Board events and special activities.
4. Other administrative tasks.

The Marketing Division, as recently redefined, has become more proactive in the marketing of Arkansas agricultural products.  In developing this role, the Division is working to lay the foundation of a productive marketing program by first identifing and communicating with producers, processors and packager’s of agricultural products.  By identifying and becoming familiar with USDA marketing programs.  And by participating in regional and national marketing organizations aimed at state agricultural programs.

In conjunction with these foundation building activities the Division has established the “Arkansas Agricultural Product Market” (AAPM).  AAPM is a website directory of Arkansas agricultural product producers open to any citizen of Arkansas who produces an agricultural commodity.  Producers may, at no charge, list details of the product they have to sell and any contact information they wish to provide on the site.  The Marketing Division will promote the site among both producers and consumers.  In addition to providing producers with a national venue for their products, the site aids in identifying the states producers and provides a direct line of communication between them and the Plant Board.  This line of communication will allow the Division to target marketing opportunities provided by USDA and the other regional and national marketing organizations to the states producers.

The Marketing Division also conducts activities to raise the public’s awareness of the Plant Board and to open the lines of communication with the Plant Board’s customers.  Promotional efforts include formalizing a Plant Board logo to be placed on Plant Board vehicles, staff’s clothing, agency brochures and etc. to provide a uniform brand recognition.  Developing and maintaining an agency wide website to provide information about the Plant Board and the programs it administers and to facilitate interaction between the agency and it’s customers.  Updating and maintaining Plant Board displays and promotional information for distribution at points frequented by Plant Board customers. And finally, expanding the Plant Board News as an agent to showcase Plant Board activities and to highlight agricultural issues in the state.

A third component of the Marketing Division’s responsibilities is to coordinate Plant Board sponsored events.  Such events include regional and national association meetings hosted by the Plant Board.  Meetings hosted or conducted by the Plant Board as a means to inform or spark discussion on various program issues.  Also agency wide staff training, planning or informational meetings.

Lastly, the Division assist the administration in various topical agency needs.  Currently the Division acts as the Marketing and Redistribution coordinator, which sees to the redistribution of durable goods purchased by the agency which are no longer of service.  Also the Division acts as the “Quality Assurance Officer” as defined in the “Quality Management Plan” associated with the EPA Pesticides grants.