Local produce to get Guernsey grown labels

By Joel de Woolfson

Nigel and Jill Le Tissier with Guernsey Growers’ Association president Alan Dorey, right, at Belle Fleur Nursery, St Sampson’s, showing the new labels which will be displayed on horticultural goods as part of a scheme to encourage people to buy local produce. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0580253)

PRODUCE grown locally will display new labelling in an initiative by the Guernsey Growers’ Association to encourage shoppers to support the industry.

The new logo, a circular sticker displaying the words ‘Guernsey grown’, was launched yesterday by the association and will appear on all its members’ products. Alan Dorey, president of the GGA, said it was hoped the initiative would further encourage islanders to buy local produce by making it clear what is grown in the island.

‘The idea was actually initiated by the Guernsey Press approaching me a year ago and asking me what I thought about the “Jersey Fresh” brand,’ he said. ‘In some ways, we are copying that brand, but we are specifically targeting horticultural produce.’

He said the labels, which will be sold at cost to GGA members, are food-friendly so can be put straight onto produce such as cucumbers or aubergines. ‘I think the important thing is that consumers will know they are buying locally grown fresh produce,’ he said. It couldn’t be fresher because it comes directly from a grower down the road.

‘There is a great deal of customer awareness about food miles and our products have the lowest food miles possible. It’s also a way of supporting the local industry, which is part of our heritage.’

Mr Dorey said that the island’s horticultural industry was not as strong as it was 30 years ago, but with support from islanders it could still thrive.

‘In the late 70s, horticultural was the main industry and seen as the finance industry is today’, he said.

‘But we still have a nucleus of good growers.’

Newly-elected Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer attended the launch and said she was very keen to encourage the growing and buying of local produce.

‘I discussed it in my speech to become minister of Commerce and Employment,’ she said.

‘I think this is a fantastic initiative because it’s really telling people that produce is Guernsey grown.’

She echoed Mr Dorey’s comments by saying that the purchase of locally grown products supported the industry but also helped the environment by reducing the number of food miles.

‘It’s great to see that there is a swell of demand from local consumers to buy local produce,’ she said.

‘The benefits are that it’s fresh and it’s reducing food miles. It’s an initiative I hope people will embrace.’