The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) will implement a regional branding campaign under a $752,426 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The grant is part of the Regional Food System Partnerships program, which supports partnerships to develop local and regional food systems.
Specifically, the awardees will promote the "SWFL Fresh: Choose Local, Choose Fresh" trademark regional brand to showcase food producers in Southwest Florida through multiple marketing platforms. The brand aims to develop new farmer markets, increase public awareness of healthy local food sources, and connect producers to consumers. Marketing efforts will expand access to farmers' markets, farm stands, community supported agriculture programs and farm-to-school initiatives. This is intended to improve food security and access to healthy options for low-income residents while also increasing farmer profitability and the regional economy in the six-county area.