Free Harvest to Hand iPhone® App supports local agriculture

Randy Broner of Loganville has announced a unique, free iPhone app, which is bringing rural America’s bounty to consumers’ tables, one farm stand at a time. The new app, Harvest to Hand, available on the App Store, was created by Farm Family and American National Insurance Company.

“Through this easy-to-use app for the iPhone or iPod Touch^®, consumers can locate farmers markets, local festivals, locally made products, family-friendly farms, local wineries, breweries and eateries, and agritourism venues in their town or wherever the road takes them,” insurance agent Randy Broner said. He explained the venues may be categorized several different ways, and users can map out directions directly from the app, wherever they may be located. Harvest to Hand app users can also add venues to their favorites, and share finds with friends and family.

“We’re excited about this new technology and what it can do to help promote buying local,” Broner said. “More than 100 million consumers own iPhones, and that number is growing. This is an incredible opportunity to help promote local farm families and the agricultural communities that are vital to our rural way of life. I encourage everyone who has a qualified event to register it today on the Harvest to Hand website.”

Participants do not have to be clients of Farm Family or American National to participate. The main criteria are that the venue, event or farm must be accessible to the general public and feature locally produced or grown and harvested products. To get events, agritourism venues or farmers markets listed, go to www.harvesttohand.com and complete the online form.  IPhone users can also find a link there to the app store to download the free app.           

The Farm Family group of insurance companies operates in 13 states in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions and includes Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company, United Farm Family Insurance Company and Farm Family Life Insurance Company, all headquartered in Glenmont, NY. Affiliate American National Property And Casualty Company operates in 34 states across the USA and is headquartered in Springfield, MO. All are subsidiaries of American National Insurance Company headquartered in Galveston, Texas. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.