Jersey Farmers Union: Grant for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 Exhibit

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A decision made 19 November 2012:

Decision Reference:

MD-E-2012-0119

Decision Summary Title :

Approval of £5,000 grant to Jersey Farmers Union

Date of Decision Summary:

20/09/2012

Decision Summary Author:

Rural Team Manager

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

n/a

Written Report

Title :

Approval of £5,000 grant to Jersey Farmers Union

Date of Written Report:

20/09/2012

Written Report Author:

Rural Team Manager

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject:

Approval of £5,000 grant to Jersey Farmers Union in support of their exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012.

Decision(s):

The Minister approved a £5,000 grant to Jersey Farmers Union (JFU)

Reason(s) for Decision:

The Assistant Minister for Rural Economy agreed to help facilitate and contribute to the creation of the JFU exhibit on the basis that the exhibit would provide a degree of destination marketing, promote the quality of produce grown by Jersey’s commercial growers, local schools and amateur gardeners and provide an example of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Supporting CSA and promoting local Genuine Jersey products is consistent with the Rural Economy Strategy 2011-2015.

Resource Implications:

The allocation of monies to the Jersey Farmers Union in support of attendance at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will come from within existing revenue budgets that currently provide support to agriculture. No implications.

Action required:

Director of Environmental Management and Rural Economy to instruct Rural Team Manager to organise payment to the Jersey Farmers Union.

Signature:

Senator Alan Maclean

Position:

Minister for Economic Development

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Grant: Jersey Farmers Union: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

RURAL ECONOMY

Provide support to the Jersey Farmers Union in relation to their exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012

Purpose of the Report

To approve monies towards the costs of the Jersey Farmers Union (JFU) exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show 2012.

Background

The Island of Jersey has a long history with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the Island has benefited from a wide range of very positive media coverage. This has been an excellent way for the Island to showcase its arable produce on an international stage at relatively low cost compared to other marketing initiatives, whilst promoting the Jersey Royal Trademark, Genuine Jersey, Jersey Dairy and providing a degree of destination marketing.

The JFU built on the success of their very first entry to the Chelsea Flower Show with a second Gold medal for their exhibit, which showcased the best of Jersey produce. The exhibit took two years to plan and prepare for and involved a coordinated effort by Jersey’s commercial growers, local schools, inmates at La Moye Prison and amateur gardeners who collectively, in the spirit of Community Supported Agriculture, produced over 40 varieties of vegetables for this high profile exhibition.

Discussion

The Minister is asked to award a £5,000 grant to the Jersey Farmers Union as a modest contribution (15%) towards the costs of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 exhibit on the basis that attendance at the show would bring Island – wide benefits.

Supporting the JFU in this way was approved in principle by the Assistant Minister for Economic and Development in September 2011 on the basis that such support offered good value for money and was consistent with the Rural Economy Strategy 2011-2015.

Recommendation

The Minister is asked to agree to a £5k grant as a contribution to the costs of the Jersey Farmers Union exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show 2012.

Written by:	Rural Team Manager

Approved by:	Director, Environmental Management and Rural Economy

Ministerial Decision ref: MD-E-2011-0119

20 September 2012