Posted Saturday, September 19, 2009 --- 7:12 p.m.

As the economy struggles and states crunch budget numbers, one group has a plan to keep as much of that state money as possible here in Wisconsin.

The program is called, "Grocers Buy Local," and members launched the campaign at Miller and Sons Market in Verona Saturday.

The initiative promotes food products from across the state using special tags to let you know where to find Wisconsin-made food and drinks.

They say Wisconsin may be known as the dairy state, but there's a lot more that area producers have to offer.

"If the price is equal, if the quality's equal, why not buy Wisconsin products?" said Greg Lawless, a member of Thrive and the UW-Extension. "This makes it a little easier to find those products."

Some of those offered are organic blue chips made in Janesville, tomato salsa made in Brooklyn, yogurt that's made near Albany, ice cream made in Columbus and Bloomer's soft drinks out of Monroe.

The group says you can expect to see more of these items showing up at grocery stores in your area as they branch out to other cities around Madison.

You can check out all of the local products that are offered and see where they can be bought by clicking on news links.