Farmers farm and ranchers ranch. It is difficult, in those 24-7 businesses at the mercy of weather and environmental conditions, for those same farmers and ranchers to also provide their own advertising campaigns.
Two local agri-food businesses qualified this week for government funding to boost their marketing profile, and with it the profile of all their fellow local food producers.
The provincial Ministry of Agriculture is contributing a little more than $43,000 to these projects from their Buy Local program - one by Little Valley Farms in Vanderhoof and one by Kawano Farms in Prince George. Both of these businesses are focused on locally-raised meat products.
Little Valley Farms has been raising cattle for three generations in Vanderhoof with increased emphasis in recent years on selling their beef, sausages, jerky and pepperoni products locally.
according to the ministry, they are getting $36,000 to promote their products in retail outlets, restaurants and caterers between Vanderhoof and Prince Rupert.
"The project is a partnership with Little Valley Farms, the Vanderhoof-based abattoir Country Locker and young ranchers Levi and Jessica Walker," said agriculture minister Pat Pimm. "The promotion will include in-store sampling and displays as well as product labels identifying the meats as locally raised and processed. Other elements of the project include a new website, radio and newspaper advertising and updated highway signs."
Little Valley Farms owner Ken Fawcett said, "We believe relationships established today will help shape the future of agriculture in the Nechako Valley. By purchasing our products, consumers are able to serve healthy and quality meals, as well as support food production that contributes to our community and our province."
Kawano Farms is Prince George's only fully-licensed meat-packing and processing facility and sources the pork and beef they use to prepare chops, steaks, mince, sausages, bacon, hams and jerky from farms and ranches in the region. They also process specialty meats like bison, lamb and goat.
Pimm said they would receive $7,625 to help their operation "reach out to British Columbians in the Fraser-Fort George area to experience and enjoy local meats. The company has developed a new website and brochure that summarizes the family-run abattoir's 30-plus years' experience in serving their customers, their commitment to high-quality products, and to safe and sustainable operating practices."
Kawano Farms co-owner Mike Noullett said, "[Our] family and all the staff at Kawano Farms are pleased to be a part of the Buy Local Program. We are excited about bringing high-quality local products to the people of B.C. It is programs like this that drive local economies and provide access to local producers and processors."
