Fresh From Florida shares strawberry promotion plans

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services plans to promote strawberries grown in the state through its Fresh From Florida program from December through March, said Susie McKinley, director of the division of marketing and development.

Print, digital and retail promotions such as grocery cart ads, weekly circulars, social media campaigns, shoppable ads and more will be used to spread the word about the Sunshine State’s juicy red strawberries, she said. Instacart, Amazon Fresh and cash-back apps like Ibotta and Checkout51 will be used to promote the berries as well.

“Fresh From Florida marketing engages the consumer at every point of their shopping experience to increase awareness and drive sales of Florida products,” McKinley said.

Retailers can drive strawberry sales by featuring the Fresh From Florida logo alongside Florida-sourced strawberries in weekly circulars and in in-store signage, she said. Sampling events are another effective way to engage shoppers.

“The best results come from a multifaceted approach,” McKinley said. “This can include a range of promotions from display contests to Fresh From Florida point-of-purchase materials and social media campaigns.”

Fresh From Florida marketing specialists are available to collaborate with retailers on customized promotions and to offer retail incentive dollars to partners, she said.

For information about sourcing Florida products or promotional partnership opportunities, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 850-617-7333 or RetailMKT@FDACS.gov.