For Immediate Release
FREDERICTON — At the height of the harvest season, and just in time for Thanksgiving, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick today released its new BuyLocalNB™ smartphone app that helps New Brunswickers find tasty, locally-grown meat, fruit and vegetables to fill their tables for the holiday feast with the family.
Last fall, CCNB released its revamped BuyLocalNB™ website at wwwbuylocalnb.ca featuring a user-friendly searchable database of local growers, producers and retailers, allowing New Brunswickers to find local food, products, crafts, local retailers and farm experiences near them.
The app, now available as an Android download and available soon in iOS, is a complementary tool that focuses on getting visitors to farms, farm stands, markets and places where they can experience local food. The search map provides handy reference for finding what’s close or what’s a Sunday afternoon drive away.
Supporting the promotion and growth of the local food movement is a key program area for CCNB; it:
- Supports the provincial economy and the family farm;
- Keeps N.B. money in N.B. by circulating our food dollars locally;
- Protects the environment by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation;
- Strengthens our communities by letting New Brunswickers get to know their local farmer and learn about where their food comes from; and
- Proactively increases our public health by providing better access to healthy nutritious food
CCNB launched its BuyLocalNB™ initiative in 2009 and developed an online food directory in 2011. It became one of CCNB’s most popular campaigns, with local foodie chefs and retailers using the directory to source their products and ingredients.
“We realized people wanted to know more about where they can find local food and how they can spend more time experiencing what local farms and markets have to offer,” said Stephanie Merrill, CCNB’s acting Executive Director. “Our new app is keeping up with technology and consumer needs.”
Merrill continued: “The response from farmers and retailers of local food has been tremendous. We have almost 300 farmers, business and craftspeople already participating and more coming in each day.”
Growers, producers, retailers and agri-tourism operators can add their products and services to the inventory by sending their information through the “Add your Business” form directly on the website.
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To arrange an interview, contact:
Jon MacNeill, Communications Director, 458-8747 | 261-1353 | jon.macneill@conservationcouncil.ca