The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net AN "increasing number" of Bahamian wholesalers and retailers are purchasing local produce, according to Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) executives, who recently launched the 'Buy Fresh, Buy Bahamian' campaign in a bid to promote homegrown produce. Amanda Wells, agricultural marketing officer at BAIC, told Tribune Business: "I think the buyers are very keen. I think it takes education and just continual encouragement to get people to buy Bahamian, but it's going well. It's been increasing. Buyers are patronising and they have been showing enthusiasm. They are buying locally, they are getting to know the local market, and the farmers are getting to know the buyers." BAIC launched the campaign last week, and hosted a delegation of wholesalers to Andros to meet the farmers, inspect the produce and hold discussions. Ms Wells said the notion held by many consumers that buying foreign is better has to change. "That's something that has to change in the mind of the consuming public, which is why we have launched our 'Buy Fresh, Buy Bahamian', last Wednesday," she said. "The buyers are all partners in this initiative and they have agreed they are going to put up 'Buy Fresh, Buy Bahamian' banners. It's going to really highlight local produce, which is really good produce, and gives reasons why as Bahamians you would want to purchase local. I have a marketing information system which gets out to the buyers on a weekly basis about what is in the fields." Ms Wells added: "The ground work for the 'Buy Fresh, Buy Bahamian' campaign has been in progress for quite some time now, and ground work would include encouraging the farmers to produce as well as developing a marketing system where buyers can obtain info easily on what's in the field. There is also educating the farmers on what the buyers are interested in purchasing. Now it's just encouraging the public to get on board and buy local."