Jersey Post supports local enterprise

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Island produce and hand-crafted products are being showcased in the heart of St Helier thanks to an initiative by Jersey Post in support of home-grown talent and local provenance.

Members of the Genuine Jersey Products Association have been promoting locally-produced goods in the Broad Street Post Office over the summer.  This week the entrance area, which is also used by community and charity organisations, will be transformed into a traditional country farm shop by local organic growers.

Jersey Post is providing the space to help raise awareness of goods that are produced and grown in the Island. Genuine Jersey has enjoyed an increased presence in the town this summer with Saturday markets in the Royal Square, a pop-up shop venture in Halkett Place and more stores stocking members’ products at a time when membership has increased to 150.

The Chief Executive of Genuine Jersey, John Garton, thanked Jersey Post for giving members the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

‘Although Genuine Jersey has been championing the benefits of supporting locally-produced goods long before ‘buying local’ became a popular movement, it is still important to get the message out to Islanders and visitors to look for the Genuine Jersey mark before they buy.  Many of the members take part in the popular farmers and crafts markets and other local events, but being able to market their products in the heart of the Island’s shopping centre is a real bonus,’ he said.

The Chief Executive of Jersey Post, Kevin Keen, said: ‘Genuine Jersey is doing an amazing job so we are delighted to support the association and its members. With thousands of Islanders using Broad Street Post Office every day it is an ideal location to promote the best of local produce and talent. It has worked extremely well and we hope it will continue next year.’

This Thursday and Friday members Steve and Linda Carter, of Farm Fresh Organics, and Steve and Jacquie Jones, of Vers Les Monts Farm, will be selling fresh produce surrounded by hay bales and farming accoutrement, and talking to the public about the benefits of buying local and, moreover, eating fresh produce. These growers have recently joined a co-operative business venture, Jersey Organic Growers Alliance. So far more than 100 Islanders have signed up for their Organic VegieBag weekly home deliveries.

The Genuine Jersey members trading in Broad Street over the summer were photographer Kevin Brace of Nature in the Frame, aviation illustrator Stephen Davies, jewellery artist Lisa Le Brocq, Pippa Barrow – who specialises in life casts – and chocolate maker Maria Barnicoat.

www.jersey.com/food | www.genuinejersey.com

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