New Brunswick’s provincial government will put $210,000 into a new campaign to encourage residents to buy local foods.
Agriculture Minister Ron Ouelette today announced the Agri-Food Market Development Program, which will accept funding applications from “agri-food businesses” to help them boost their profiles among consumers within the province.
- Applications for funds will be accepted under one or more of six elements in the program, the province explained:
- road signage, to direct customers to an on-farm market, farmer’s market or sites where New Brunswick agri-food is sold;
- promotion and advertising related to New Brunswick agri-food;
- helping commercial farms diversify into agri-tourism;
- product development, including market launches for new products;
- setting up marketing groups or organizations, and helping them build their capacity; and
- broader strategic initiatives.
Read Also
U.S. complaints about protectionist Canadian dairy policy hypocritical, report argues
Despite criticisms of Canadian dairy policy, the American dairy industry has many of the same protectionist tendencies Canada does, writes Al Mussell in a new policy paper.
People or businesses setting up agri-food enterprises in New Brunswick are eligible, as are provincial commodity groups or marketing groups selling New Brunswick products. Businesses that partner with New Brunswick farms or agri-food businesses to promote local food products are also eligible.
The program also sets up a new market development advisory committee of 11 farmers and marketers, including conventional and organic crop and livestock producers, dairy and horticulture producers, processors and reps from both Co-op Atlantic and the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors.
The agriculture and aquaculture department noted that it’s also working with other departments on buy-local initiatives, such as government purchases of New Brunswick foods, school fruit and vegetable programs, promotional signage and agri-tourism projects.
The department also said it will work to “facilitate the re-establishment” of a provincial farmers’ markets association and look at ways to build up the “NB Grown” marketing program.
