Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham and local turkey farmer Dan Ireland met with Russ Benwell, owner of Red Barn Market, ahead of the busy holiday season to encourage British Columbians to buy B.C. turkeys for their annual festive celebrations.

“Purchasing a B.C. turkey is a longstanding tradition for many families in B.C. It puts delicious, festive food on our holiday tables and supports our farms,” said Popham. “When British Columbians choose to buy B.C. turkeys, poultry, and other agricultural products, they support local family farmers like Dan Ireland of Ireland Farms, and in turn, are supporting our local communities.”

Red Barn Market is a local grocer with multiple locations that focuses mainly on foods made, raised or grown on Vancouver Island. They are a strong supporter of local turkey sales, allowing customers to pre-order their holiday birds, and sourcing many free-range turkeys for southern Vancouver Island residents’ holiday meals over the years.

“At Red Barn, we are supporting our local farmers and producers to ensure customers are getting the best tasting and quality items,” said Benwell. “Our selection of B.C. turkeys for the holidays are sure to please your family and guests!”

B.C. turkeys are getting even more help this year from the provincial government with funding to support the sales of local turkeys in 2018. The B.C. Turkey Marketing Board is receiving $75,000 in matching funding from the provincial government through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF) to expand its presence in the local retail marketplace, and to promote the sale of B.C. turkeys through digital campaigns and translated materials for multicultural channels in the new year.

“Thanks to the funding, we have the opportunity to reach out to B.C.’s Asian and South Asian communities to encourage the consumption of B.C. turkeys,” said Michel Benoit, general manager and marketing, B.C. Turkey Marketing Board. “In phase one and two of our campaign, we are promoting the benefits of eating turkeys, how to cook them and the history of their popularity in North America.”

The cost-shared funding administered by the IAF aims to promote local foods or beverages that are grown, raised, harvested or processed in B.C.

The B.C. government is taking a three-pillared approach to support the province’s agriculture, seafood, and food and beverage processing sectors and to encourage the consumption of B.C. products. An enhanced Buy BC marketing program will help local farmers like Ireland Farms market their products within the province to grow their businesses.

Feed BC will be established to increase the use of B.C. foods in hospitals and other government facilities, and Grow BC will be created to help B.C. producers expand local food production.

Learn More:

To find out about turkey farmers in your community, check out: www.bcturkey.com

Check out Dan Ireland’s Ireland Farms turkeys: https://islandfarmfresh.com/farm/ireland-farms/

Order your local turkey through Red Barn Market: http://www.redbarnmarket.ca/