The Soil Association is kicking off 2018 with a new online drive to encourage new customers into the organic sector and help boost sales.
The charity is calling on suppliers of Soil Association-certified organic fruit and vegetables to list their products on its website, either on its existing ‘Box Scheme’ marketplace or under new categories including ‘Farm Gate’ and ‘Farmers’ Market’.
Supermarket suppliers can also display their products under ‘Other’.
The aim of the charity’s first January campaign is to make it easier for consumers to locate their local supplier of Soil Association-certified organic produce and increase sales at a time when many prioritise healthy eating after a festive binge.
To take part, organic suppliers are being asked to list their products on the marketplace by 15 January by providing their license number, product details, website link (if they have one) and an image showing their offering.
In addition, organic suppliers are being urged to promote their businesses through the Soil Association by providing recipes; offering tips for buying and eating seasonally; nominating a “hero” organic product of the month for either January or February; or telling the story of their business for the charity to publicise on its website.
In return, suppliers will also be provided with printed materials and a digital toolkit so they can publicise the Soil Association campaign themselves.
The decision to run the campaign in January follows feedback gathered at the organisation’s last produce forum in June 2017. It indicated the need to profile organic produce outside of the charity’s core campaign, Organic September.
