Those going about their business at Canadian Tire in Summerside were in for a treat when they walked through the entrance and were greeted in the hallway with a cookie and chocolate milk.
The campaign, Have a Dairy Blue Christmas, had 165 dairy farmers and their families across the province participate with a pop-up giveaway booth as a way to say ‘thank you’ to all the consumers of blue cow logo milk in wake of the international trade deals by the United States.
“We’re bringing people’s attention to the blue cow logo on the container of milk that shows it’s 100 percent Canadian,” said Hilton MacLennan, a dairy farmer for more than 40 years. “We’re not a big farm and milk about 30 cows, but it’s struggling with all these trade deals.”
Pop-up milk and cookie giveaway booths gave consumers a chance to talk to the producers.
“It’s a way to say thank you to the people for supporting the Island dairy farmers with all that’s gone on in the industry in the last little while,” continued MacLennan. “It’s great that the Canadian consumer is backing us and that’s what we need in order to survive.”
Deanna Doctor and Rayanne Frizzell are the founders of the community event.
“It’s a big thank you to consumers because with the USMCA (United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement) we really need Canadian support more than ever to buy local and look for the blue cow symbol,” said Doctor.
“The fight is not over, so please keep buying local and looking for the blue cow symbol.”