Albertans encouraged to ‘Buy Local’ this spring, summer

As the weather warms up, Albertans are being encouraged to buy local, specifically from Alberta ranchers, farmers, and food processors.

The province says amidst global uncertainty buying local is more important than ever, adding that buying local products helps to keep Albertans money in Alberta. 

“Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products,” said Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson.

“The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride,” he said.

Spring and summer is prime farmers’ market time; the province says more than 150 producers will sell what they make, bake, and grow at events across the province this summer. 

“I think it’s a great campaign because a lot of people are too busy with their lives. They’re not educated on this and doing this helps everybody get educated on this,” said an Edmonton shopper CityNews spoke to.

A voluntary ‘Made in Alberta’ food and beverage labelling campaign was launched by the province in 2023 as a way to make it easier to identify local products.  

Renewed calls to shop local come during a tense trade war with the United States. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on several Canadian industries in recent weeks, including steel and aluminium, automobiles, and more. 

Canada has introduced retaliatory tariffs in response. 

Sigurdson says that, so far, tariffs don’t have an impact on the agriculture industry, and the province and industry members will continue to fight for the agriculture sector. 

A catalogue of made in Alberta products can be found here.

More information on buying local, including a list of approved farmers’ markets and food directories, can be found here. 

-With files from Hiba Kamal-Choufi