St Helena : St Helena Launches a Buy Local Campaign
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 12.10.2009 (Article Archived on 26.10.2009)
Following the prerogative set by St Helena Tourism with their ‘Proud of St Helena’ programme, it is important for the growth of island economy, especially in such uncertain times, that the island community is encouraged to support local businesses.
Buy Local Campaign
As Published in St Helena Herald 03.10.09
Following the prerogative set by St Helena Tourism with their ‘Proud of St Helena’ programme, it is important for the growth of island economy, especially in such uncertain times, that the island community is encouraged to support local businesses. The underlying principal of this ‘Buy Local’ is that along with local business growth comes an improved standard of living for all. ‘Buy Local’ is an initiative used globally to encourage those in the local community to purchase from their local suppliers as opposed to spending money in another economy.
It is the aim of this campaign to promote the production and purchase of local products to:
• the Public
• the St Helena Government (SHG);
And
• the Business Community of St Helena.
It is hoped that through heightened awareness of our spending habits the local market will be more conscious of buying local before imported produce.
Why Buy Local
‘Buy Local’ is an awareness campaign that will support the local economy and develop a pride in what we produce here on island.
5 reasons why we should ‘Buy Local’
1. Support local farms, butchers, fishmongers, etc - Every local product comes with a local story. Your choice to buy fresh local products supports the development of our island’s economy and improves island life.
2. Reduce your carbon footprint - Think about the distance imported products travel to us here on St Helena. Local meat, fish and vegetable produce are available in your own backyard, and don’t burn inordinate amounts of carbon to get there.
3. Be Healthy. - surely our Community Health team will agree; eating local means healthy ingredients and access to fresh food at its nutritional peak beats taking it out of the freezer any day!
4. Create Family Memories - Do you remember making fishcakes with Nanna on a Wednesday or helping granddad with those famous black puddings? All fond memories that make a family on St Helena, and all made with local products!
5. Buy it Local, Keep it Local - Why give your Money to Schools, Hospitals and Roads elsewhere in the world when, by spending your money on local products it can go to our children’s schools, our hospitals and our much needed road works!
Project Programme and Outcome:
Although it is hoped that this project will lead to a much larger programme where continued attention is being brought to the local producers and local market, this initial incentive will entail small steps being taken where the outcome will show:
a. Support for local businesses in the craft, fishing and agriculture sectors
b. Island wide ‘Buy Local’ poster and sticker campaign
c. Heightened awareness in the business community through a ‘We Buy Local’ branding award
d. A souvenir campaign ‘Show You Care…Buy Local’ Campaign;
And
e. Heightened awareness and increased support from SHG for local producers. Simple steps with minimum input but maximum output, which we hope will raise awareness in the local community, about their buying habits and demonstrate how buying local can be their contribution towards an improved economy for St Helena.
For further information about the campaign and campaign materials please contact Mercia George at SHDA on telephone number 2920 or e-mail mercia.george@shda.co.sh
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