Funds boost goat cheese presence

Monday, April 11, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Ontario Goat has received $100,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to market Ontario goat cheese.

The money, from the ministry’s Ontario Market Investment Fund, matches funds raised by producers, processors and brokers and will be used to promote the consumption of Ontario goat cheese.

The promotion includes the launch of a website along with the use of a new logo which will be available for Ontario goat cheese processors to attach to their products. The website will promote the use of Ontario goat cheese by including recipes and generally pointing out ways consumers can use the cheese. Recipes will also be available in stores as point-of-sale material.

Jennifer Haley, executive director of Ontario Goat, said the campaign includes market research and media outreach. She said they will also be educating consumers about the variety of goat cheeses on the market.

“We really want to do some work about educating consumers about the hard and soft varieties that are being produced that are available to consumers,” Haley said. BF