Department partners with SuperQuinn stores to feature Florida strawberries in Ireland

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continues to expand the global market reach of Florida products with a new promotion that will feature Florida strawberries in Ireland during December. The Ireland-based grocery chain SuperQuinn has partnered with the department and will promote Florida's premier winter berry crop to shoppers.

"We're pleased to partner with SuperQuinn for this exciting marketing promotion," Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said. "This partnership will enable shoppers throughout Ireland to enjoy delicious fresh Florida strawberries during the holidays."

Florida's strawberry crop hits its peak in December and January - the earliest strawberry crop to be harvested in the United States - which makes it a highly prized, delicious treat to help brighten cold, wintery days. Florida strawberries are grown primarily in the west-central part of the state near Plant City, which is known as the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the World."

Department marketing representatives met with SuperQuinn produce buyers in August to develop the retail promotion. They then enlisted Florida strawberry growers and produce handlers that could facilitate the increased product demand. Then, to link the Florida suppliers with the overseas retailer, the marketing reps located freight forwarders who are able to ship directly from Tampa and Orlando into Dublin.

The Florida strawberry retail promotion in Ireland is part of the department's ongoing "Fresh from Florida" marketing campaign. Since 2000, the department's Division of Marketing and Development has partnered with grocery chains around the globe to feature Florida-grown agricultural products in numerous retail promotions. Over the years the number of retail partners has increased from two grocery chains and 298 stores to 40 chains and more than 10,000 stores.

The "Fresh from Florida" marketing campaigns have featured more than two dozen Florida products. Participating grocery chains agree to include ads for Florida products in their advertising circulars. On average, about one-fourth of the ads are in Florida, half are in the continental United States, and one-fourth are in Canada, the United Kingdom, Central America, the Caribbean and South Korea.

For more about Florida products and the FAPC, visit http://www.Florida-Agriculture.com.

For more about SuperQuinn, visit http://www.superquinn.ie.