Nova Scotia’s government plans a “more robust” push to promote locally-produced foods by doubling its annual funding for the province’s buy-local marketing initiative.
The province said Saturday it will increase its support for Select Nova Scotia to $500,000, up from $250,000, starting in 2013.
The added cash is expected to “allow for a more robust marketing campaign,” which began on television and online in late March, the province said.
Select Nova Scotia’s logo has also been redesigned to better display the provincial flag, “making it even easier to identify local products,” the province said.
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Since the initiative was launched in 2007, awareness of buying local has increased 33 per cent among Nova Scotians, more farmers’ markets are “popping up across the province” and Nova Scotians are buying more local food, the government said.
Select Nova Scotia includes public relations and marketing campaigns, retail promotions, direct marketing events, food service promotions, trade events, a website and business development support.
Over 400 businesses take part in the initiative, which also backs “signature” events such as the Incredible Picnics in August and the Incredible Community Suppers in February. Those events combined attracted over 9,500 participants in 2012, the province noted.
