Residents in the North Cariboo are learning more about the range of foods and farmed products grown in their region through the "North Cariboo Farm Country - Grown For You" campaign that received $22,000 from the B.C. government's Buy Local Program.

The campaign is being led by the Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation and the North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association (FARMED). The campaign includes plans for the promotion of North Cariboo-grown products and farm-based services through signs and banners, product packaging, in-store promotional materials and an upgraded website.

The campaign will promote more than 50 products produced in the North Cariboo ranging from dairy, fruits and vegetables, livestock and specialty meats to natural fibres, plants and flowers, honey, jams and syrups as well as other prepared foods. The "North Cariboo Farm Country - Grown For You" focuses on the region from Nazko to Barkerville and McLeese Lake to Strathnaver in the north.

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 British Columbia 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.

Quotes:

Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm -
"The North Cariboo offers residents and visitors great local food options and this program helps spread the word about them in the marketplace. Shopping locally, the dollars stay in the community and in the pockets of B.C.'s ranching and farming families."

Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes -
"Our region is home to numerous hardworking producers who make and sell some incredible agricultural products. Thanks to this Buy Local funding, they will now be able to get their Cariboo-made items to a larger audience, and at the same time, assist our local economy."

Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation chair Jim Gorsline -
"The branding expansion and awareness project will lead to new employment in the future by supporting local producers, farm-based business and agri-tourism."

North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association chair Heloise Dixon-Warren -
"The funding support from the Buy Local program will increase the awareness, and raise the profile, of locally produced agricultural products and farm-based services by further promoting the "North Cariboo - Grown for You" brand. This will result in us all having better access to quality locally produced products and will ultimately bring agricultural producers together through collaboration and partnerships."

Learn More:
Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation: http://www.quesnelinfo.com/

North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association (FARMED): http://farmed.ca/

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

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

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

Jorleen Russell
Marketing and Branding Coordinator
Quesnel Community and Economic Development Corporation
250 992 3522