Alberta encourages people to buy local with new campaign

The province is hoping to help consumers buy Alberta products by unveiling a new logo. CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski has the story.

The province has launched a new campaign to encourage Albertans to eat, drink and buy local.

It includes a new website that provides information on where to find local food and a push for people to look out for the “Made in Alberta” label.

“Every decision to buy local and every purchase you make helps keep Alberta strong, it helps protect jobs in the province and it helps protect our economy,” said agriculture minister RJ Sigurdson at a news conference Monday.

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The food and beverage labeling program started two years ago and more than 800 locally-made products currently display it.

“Made in Alberta is a volunteer labeling program,” he said. “Of course, we are encouraging producers and processors to take a look at the opportunities through this program to help clearly identify to consumers that these are sourced and manufactured products right here in our great province.”

He said this new campaign is in response to a growing swell of people wanting to support local businesses amid trade tensions with the United States.

Growing sentiment to support local

The announcement was made at the Freson Brothers location in southwest Edmonton where staff have also noticed a change in consumer shopping habits.

“We’ve seen a big uptick in customers coming in and looking to see where things are sourced and wanting to support local, first and foremost, and then to support Canada,” said store manager Jason Bartlett.

He admits responding to the flood of inquiries was challenging at first.

“It takes a little bit of time, you don’t just snap your fingers and have labels right when tariffs are announced but we’ve been able to do that throughout the store.”

The Alberta Food Processors Association administers the Made in Alberta labelling program which also features an image of a wild rose.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency uses a variety of labels to indicate whether a product has domestic or imported ingredients and whether it is made in Canada.

What local products you can purchase

People might be surprised by the number of products Alberta has to offer, Bartlett said.

“Here you’ll find Alberta garlic, Alberta Leffers carrots, Alberta cucumbers, Alberta tomatoes and even melons. Yes, you heard that right, Alberta grows melons.“

He said Freson Brothers uses Alberta grain to make sourdough daily and it offers a wide variety of Alberta meats.

The grocery chain itself is an Alberta-based family-owned business that focuses on local products.

The province is encouraging people to “keep it close to home” while grocery shopping and dining out.

Its new Buy Local website also links to “Alberta approved” farmers markets.