New Brunswick farmers who want to market products locally will get about 40 per cent more help from the province this year to do so.
Agriculture Minister Ronald Ouelette on Thursday pledged $210,000 for such efforts this year through the New Brunswick Agri-Food Market Development Program, up from over $150,000 in 2007.
Last year’s funds, in the first year of the program, went toward 81 domestic market development projects, representing over $600,000 in marketing upgrades, the province said.
The program’s goal is to increase sale and consumption of local agri-food products through marketing initiatives — such as road signage, promotion activities and agri-tourism — as well as development and market launches for new products, and the establishment of marketing groups.
Cost-shared assistance under the program is available to farmers, farm markets, associations and agri-food businesses.
