Press Release:GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NATIONAL EAT JAMAICAN CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED BY FAO - EU FOOD FACILITY

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

         HOPE GARDENS

KINGSTON 6

JAMAICA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NATIONAL EAT JAMAICAN CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED BY FAO - EU FOOD FACILITY

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Government is placing agriculture on the public agenda with the launch of a national "Eat Jamaican" campaign aimed at increasing local production and encouraging consumers to make healthy choices by eating local produce, fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, who launched the campaign at the Coronation Market, downtown Kingston this morning has long been an advocate of the consumption of local foods. The Agriculture Minister unveiled details of the programme funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Minister Tufton said the three-month campaign valued at J$17.2M will entail a series of road shows across Jamaica. The road shows will feature singing competitions, food exhibition/tasting, and hotel cook-offs, he said.   As part of consumer education, the campaign will seek to get consumers united behind the theme "grow what we eat, eat what we grow," in support of farmers, retailers, agro-processors and distributors, Minister Tufton added.

The Minister has also welcomed the endorsement of the “Eat Jamaican” message by six Jamaican World and Olympic Champions: Shelly Ann Fraser, Brigitte Foster Hylton, Melaine Walker, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, and former World Record Holder Asafa Powell.

Backyard gardening is another strong component of the campaign with the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (Agency) making available vital information to householders and institutions which may want to start an agricultural project and embrace the message of making healthy food choices.

The campaign will also be backed by ongoing updates on a number of social media networks so that consumers, especially the young people, can keep abreast of the pace of the campaign and make their own contributions.

Collaboration is a huge part of this Eat Jamaican campaign and stakeholders such as the Jamaica Agricultural Society, RADA and the tourism industry have endorsed the programme which will ultimately bring local foods from the fields to the table.

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Contact:

Cecil Thoms

Director, Communication & Public Relations

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

T- 927-1872; E – cethoms@moa.gov.jm

Akhter Hamid

Project Manager

EU Food Facility Project

FAO Representation in Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica

Tel: +1 876 978 2352

Mob: +1 876 322 7284

Email: akhter.hamid@fao.org

Jean Lowrie-Chin & Staci Smith
PROComm
P 876-926-6740 | M 876-381-5158 | M876-455-1166

Jean.lowrie-chin@procomm.com.jm