Powell River and Comox Valley residents will soon be receiving expanded information on regional agrifood products through a coastal buy local campaign.

Sunshine Organics, a company that provides home delivery of fresh local organic fruits and vegetables is receiving $100,000 from the B.C. government's Buy Local program.

Sunshine Organics is partnering with local retailers and food affiliates in the Sunshine Coast and Comox Valley on the project. The goal of the campaign is to heighten awareness and increase consumption of the vast array of agrifood products available in both of these coastal areas.

A coastal 'Buy Local' logo also will be created and displayed at local markets and community events beginning this spring. Sunshine Organics will have a booth at these events with materials promoting the campaign, including samples of local products and displays of the food bins they provide in their weekly home delivery program.

The Buy Local program offers successful applicants matching funds up to $100,000 to launch or expand local food marketing campaigns.

Building the local market for B.C. foods is a key commitment of government's Agrifoods Strategy, a component of the BC Jobs Plan, to lead the agrifoods sector growth into a $14-billion-a-year industry by 2017.

The provincial government's Buy Local program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.

Quotes:

Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick -

"Most B.C. organic farms are family owned and operated, so when we support them, we enjoy the benefits of local and nutritious foods and also enable a strong and sustainable local community. Congratulations to Sunshine Organics on leading this initiative and bringing their organic message to our coastal communities."

Sunshine Organics owner Melissa Call -

"Sunshine Organics has been providing fresh produce to local consumers for more than ten years and we always source our products locally and within B.C. first. With the funding from the Buy Local Program, we can now connect with more farms in the Comox Valley and the Sunshine Coast to find and offer additional local products. It will also help us raise awareness of our food delivery service and allow us to send our message to more people in the region, which we see as a win for consumers, a win for farmers, and a win for those looking for increased sustainability in agricultural economic development."

Learn More:

B.C. Buy Local program: http://www.gov.bc.ca/agri/buylocal.html

Sunshine Organics:

Comox Valley - http://www.sunshineorganics.ca/comoxvalley/index.htm

Sunshine Coast - http://www.sunshineorganics.ca/powellriver/index.htm

Keep up to date on the latest in B.C. foods and beverages: https://www.facebook.com/FoodsBC

For a photo of Comox Valley MLA Don McRae and Sunshine Organics owner Melissa Call, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/8574888689/

Contacts:

Dave Townsend
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-7098
250 889-5945 (cell)

Melissa Call
Sunshine Organics
604 414-4240