Sweet Grown Alabama News

Montgomery, AL- Marketing and promotion of Alabama’s seafood industry has found a new home with Sweet Grown Alabama. 

Sweet Grown Alabama, the state's agricultural branding program, has successfully promoted Alabama-grown produce and proteins since 2019 through an online searchable database, robust advertising and events held statewide. The addition of Alabama gulf seafood to its portfolio will further showcase the state's diverse food industry.

“Alabama is home to some of the best seafood in the country and integrating it into Sweet Grown Alabama is a natural fit,” said Rick Pate, Commissioner of Agriculture and Sweet Grown Alabama board member. “This expansion will help consumers recognize and support Alabama’s hardworking seafood industry, while reinforcing the importance of buying local across all areas of agriculture.”

After 13 years, the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission, which led the “Eat Alabama Seafood” branding project, will conclude its operations under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Sweet Grown Alabama Director Ellie Watson said the team is honored to take over the promotion of Alabama gulf seafood, further strengthening efforts to support and market locally sourced products.

“When the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources called in search of a new home for their ‘Eat Alabama Seafood’ program, we were incredibly flattered they recognized the hard work and credibility put into the Sweet Grown Alabama brand by so many farmers and industry partners,” Watson said. “Our commitment to promote high-quality products grown in Alabama remains strong and amending our bylaws to add ‘seafood caught in gulf waters and processed in Alabama’ allows us to promote another top-notch category of products to consumers.” 

Watson also said she’s excited for the restaurant partnerships that will continue from the hard work began by the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission. 

“Restaurants across our state are familiar with the ‘Eat Alabama Seafood’ brand and have built incredible relationships with seafood industry representatives and Department of Conservation staff,” said Watson. “Since Sweet Grown Alabama began, we have known restaurants were an excellent place to showcase Sweet Grown Alabama products to consumers, and we look forward to further fostering these relationships to continue highlighting not only local seafood on menus, but also locally grown products like honey, beef, produce and more.”

With this transition, Sweet Grown Alabama will oversee promotional efforts, marketing campaigns, and the flagship event previously led by the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission- The Alabama Seafood Cook-Off, now in its tenth year. The Sweet Grown Alabama Seafood Cook-Off will be held May 5 at The Wharf in Orange Beach, where four chef teams will prepare their best dish made with Alabama seafood and, new for 2025, a locally grown ingredient. 

“The seafood cook-off gives Sweet Grown Alabama a great opportunity to not only highlight Alabama seafood but also the other great products from Alabama that can be paired with the great seafood,” said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “I appreciate Commissioner Pate, Horace Horn and Jimmy Parnell and the work to blend this in with their other promotion of Alabama products.”

The four chef teams are selected by a panel of experts and can enter the contest by submitting a recipe featuring seafood and a locally grown ingredient. Recipe submissions are currently being accepted through April 1, 2025. Learn more here. 

“The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Seafood Marketing Commission have done an incredible job promoting our state’s seafood industry for the past 13 years,” said Watson. “Their efforts are something every Alabamian should be proud of, and we’re honored to keep carrying that torch.”

To learn more about Sweet Grown Alabama, visit SweetGrownAlabama.org.