Americans are being encouraged to look out for Australia’s famous kangaroo symbol as a reliable identifier of genuine Australian produce and products during January.
The Australian Made, Australian Grown campaign (AMAG) is working closely with the Australian Trade Commission’s (Austrade’s) North American network to promote a range of Aussie food products during G’Day USA, the largest foreign country promotion held annually in the US.
This is the fourth year AMAG has actively promoted Australian products under the G’Day USA banner via retail promotions with selected specialist food and beverage retailers.
This year special in-store displays and activities will promote Australian foods in San Francisco’s renowned Andronico’s Market, Bristol Farms in Los Angeles and The Food Emporium in New York.
“The US market provides great opportunities for Australian producers and it makes good sense for Aussie exporters to readily identify their products and produce as Australian so as to benefit from the positive image Americans have about ‘things Australian’. This is exactly what the AMAG logo does and it is why we are undertaking such promotions,” said Australian Made, Australian Grown Chief Executive, Ian Harrison.
During these month long promotions American’s can taste test Aussie products as diverse as beer, cheeses, olive oil, tuna, macadamia nuts and muesli, meats, seafoods and specialty sauces.
AMAG’s involvement in the 2009 G’Day USA is part of its broader program of promoting Australian products and produce in the USA — previous promotions have included leading retailers: Whole Foods (New York), Balducci’s (Washington/New York), Citarella (NY) and Gelson’s (LA). Further promotions with other leading retailers are scheduled throughout 2009.
In addition, initiatives are also being undertaken in Canada, Dubai and Asia.
AMAG’s Export Campaign commenced in December 2007 when the Campaign welcomed the announcement of a $2.7 million export grant from the Federal Government. The three year grant is assisting AMAG to promote Australia products to consumers around the world, using the famous kangaroo logo.
Australian Made, Australian Grown is a not-for-profit campaign promoting and administering the green and gold kangaroo logo. The symbol is now recognised by 98% of Australians, trusted over any other country of origin symbol such as flags, maps, pictures of animals, etc by 86%, and can now be found on more than 10,000 products sold here and around the world.
Only products that are registered with AMAG and meet the criteria determined in AMAG’s strict Code of Practice may carry the logo.