Midwest Mint Growers

Indiana Mint Market Development & Research Program​

The Indiana General Assembly passed legislation in the 1970's that allowed agricultural commodity producers to establish commodity market development program with producer-led councils. The legislation charges the Dean of Agriculture or his/her designee at Purdue University with the establishment process and administration of check-off funds received through these programs. Programs conducted by these councils may include:

• Market development and research programs
• Market promotion, education and public relations programs
• Market information services

In 1987, Indiana mint growers successfully petitioned the Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University to establish a Mint Market Development & Research Council. The Dean charged the Agricultural Experiment Station (now called the Office of Agricultural Research and Graduate Education) in the college with administration of the Mint Market Development & Research Council.

Check-off funds at the approved amount of $0.05 per pound of mint oil sold are collected, audited, and administered by the Office of Agricultural Research and Graduate Education (ARGE). The Director of ARGE is guided in the expenditure of those funds by the Mint Market Development Council.

Mint Council activities include active participation with the national Mint Industry Research Council (MIRC) in addition to hosting an educational Midwest mint producer meeting every two years.