Women’s Institute members from across the Maritime provinces have initiated a letter-writing campaign to encourage the increased use of local beef in the region. Representatives of Women’s Institutes in the three provinces met recently to discuss their concerns about the limited availability of Atlantic beef in local retail and other establishments.
“The Atlantic Beef plant in Albany offers exceptional beef products to food retailers, wholesalers, meat processors and food service companies, but it is under-utilized, further reducing the amount of Atlantic-produced product on retail shelves,” said Marie Kenny, president of Prince Edward Island Women’s Institute. “As consumers, we strongly urge support of Atlantic beef products by having more local product on shelves, seeing this product clearly labelled and making it a priority that Atlantic beef be promoted to consumers throughout the region.”
Kenny praised the high quality of Atlantic beef and added that its increased use would have far reaching environmental benefits because of reduced transportation costs causing fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
“Consumer support of local products is vitally important to our regional economy,” said Kenny. “We can achieve this by keeping the Atlantic beef plant open and making it more viable.”
Women’s Institute members from across the region are being encouraged to write to their premiers, ministers of agriculture, members of legislatures and members of parliament. The Women’s Institutes in the region represent approximately 6000 members.