The Market Development Division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) recently launched a new marketing video and branding campaign to promote, and raise awareness of the wide range of products grown, raised, crafted, or made in the Magnolia State.

Created by Jackson, Miss.-based Maris, West & Baker advertising agency, the video highlights manufacturers whose products are 51 percent, or more, manufactured in Mississippi.

The video also showcases a new logo designed specifically for the campaign featuring the words Genuine MS, with the western border of the state superimposed over the right downward slant of the capitalized M.

Other Mississippi businesses featured in the video include Yazoo City’s Simmons Catfish, Sumner’s Two Brooks Farm, and Petal’s Flathau’s Fine Foods.

“Agriculture, Mississippi’s number one industry, brings $7.4 billion to the state and employs, either directly or indirectly, almost 30 percent of our state’s workforce,” says Andy Gipson, commissioner of MDAC. “We feel this campaign will be an important economic development tool to help connect consumers in our state and across the globe to our locally grown, raised, crafted, and made products from Mississippi.”

Genuine MS member companies have authorization to use the logo as a stamp of authenticity on their products, packaging, and promotion materials. Members can maintain a profile on the Genuine MS website where stories, images, links, and contact information about their business and products may be housed. Associate memberships are also offered to restaurants, retailers, agritourism businesses, and organizations that support Mississippi agriculture.

The Genuine MS branding campaign replaces the “Make Mine Mississippi” campaign which launched in April 1999. For more information, visit www.genuinems.com.