Harford’s ‘Buy Local’ Campaign Wins National Achievement Award

From Harford County government:

The Harford County Executive’s Division of Agriculture is pleased to announce that it has received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its “Buy Local” campaign. The award was announced at the NACo Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada on July 18, 2010.

NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize innovative county government programs in a variety of categories. The Buy Local campaign won in the category of Civic Education and Public Information.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition,” stated County Executive David R. Craig. “It’s an acknowledgment of the aggressive push that Harford County Government has been making to raise the public’s level of awareness about the availability of locally-grown food and other agricultural products.”

“When Harford County residents Buy Local, they not only provide their families with high-quality and affordable goods from producers that they know and trust, but they also keep agriculture as a viable industry, thereby preserving farmland and maintaining Harford County’s rural heritage.”

County Executive Craig added, “Of course, we couldn’t have the Buy Local program if we didn’t have farmers and producers who, through their hard work and sacrifice, offer some of the finest quality products that money can buy. We also appreciate the County Council for supporting us in this effort. I hope that every Harford County family makes a conscious effort to Buy Local whenever they can.”

The Harford County Division of Agriculture, part of the Office of the County Executive, implemented the Buy Local campaign in the summer of 2008 with the printing and distribution of informational brochures and bumper stickers, and the launching of the HarfordFarms.com website. In June 2009, the Division of Agriculture painted the Buy Local logo and slogan on the sides of two barns in the county, and has since placed a photo of one of the barns on a billboard along Route 40.

For more information on agriculture in Harford County, visit the Division of Agriculture’s website at www.HarfordFarms.com. To become a fan of the Buy Local campaign on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/harfordfarms.