Cheerwine part of made-in-America event at White House today

Published 10:23 am Monday, July 17, 2017

Cheerwine was born in the South, raised in a glass — and today is an invited guest at the White House.

Top Cheerwine officials are in the nation’s capital to participate in a made-in-America showcase put together by the Trump administration.

Cliff Ritchie, president of the company, and Joy Ritchie Harper, marketing director, flew to Washington to be part of the 3 p.m. event.

A press release from the White House said President Donald Trump is hosting the event in continuation of his effort to put America first. The event is designed to highlight and celebrate American-made products and encourage other companies to manufacture their products in the United States.

Cheerwine will be representing North Carolina.

By offering each state the opportunity to showcase a product made the state, the press release says, Trump is reaffirming his administration’s commitment to encourage manufacturing that will further stimulate the economy and create jobs in the country.

Accompanying Trump at the event will be the vice president, cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, and members of the president’s senior staff.

Today’s event is part of a weeklong focus by the White House on U.S. manufacturing.

White House director of media affairs Helen Aguirre Ferre said Sunday that the president also is expected to issue a proclamation Wednesday on the importance of making goods in America.

“For too long our government has forgotten the American worker. Their interests were pushed aside for global projects and their wealth was taken from the communities and shipped overseas,” said Ferre. “Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, not only will the American worker never be forgotten, but they will be championed.”

Trump has pledged to bring back U.S. manufacturing jobs lost to technological innovation and outsourcing by scaling back regulations and renegotiating the country’s trade deals.

It’s an issue that resonates with the president’s base, and one that senior aides sought to highlight Sunday as the president spent the weekend attending the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship at a course he owns.

— Staff and wire reports