In 2017,following hurricane irma, the southwest florida regional planning council (swfrpc) and the university of florida institute of food and agricultural sciences (UF/ifas) worked with small to mid-…

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.

In 2017,following hurricane irma, the southwest florida regional planning council (swfrpc) and the university of florida institute of food and agricultural sciences (UF/ifas) worked with small to mid- sized growers in southwest florida (swfl) to identify negative impacts on their production capacity and how to make them more resilient. An agricultural sustainability study funded by the department of economic opportunity (DEO) resulted in an analysis that identified numerous threats and opportunities these growers face. The research confirmed consumers, producers, and retailers all find value in marketing a "local" brand for agricultural products. The federal economic development administration (EDA) then funded the development of a swfl brand: "swfl fresh: choose local, choose fresh." our project will implement the trademarked regional brand to showcase swfl food producers and their products through multiple marketing platforms. The brand will support the development of new markets for farmers, increase public knowledge of healthy, local food sources, and connect food producers to consumers. Our marketing campaign will expand markets, increase farmer profitability, and promote the local economy in our six-county region while exposing consumers to higher quality and healthier food. This includes expanding access to farmers' markets, farm stands, community supported agriculture, and farm-to-school initiatives. By supporting the creation of markets for locally produced foods with government subsidies and the adoption of tools that encourage healthy food choices among socially disadvantaged populations, we will improve food security for low-income individuals.