Montague, PEI -
The effort to help a stricken beef farmer with his credit problems has generated a tremendous response from (Prince Edward) Islanders, says the group initiating the challenge.
Almost 200 boxes of beef have been sold in the Buy Sterling's Beef campaign to help Sterling Mitchell and his family farm just east of Charlottetown.
The Rural Alliance confirmed the sales are continuing to grow and praise Charlottetown business Mr. Plumber as leading the way in the corporate sector, purchasing 30 boxes to help out the campaign.
"We're a small group trying to do the best we can, but we're making progress," said Peter Llewellyn of the Alliance.
"Our goal is to hit 500 boxes or the equivalent of 5,000 pounds of beef."
Llewellyn said there were some problems with ways to contact the Alliance and that caused some major confusion for supporters reaching out to help.
He said improvements have been made with web links and email connections and now supporters can click right on the home page of the Rural Alliance to order beef.
The campaign was launched in reaction to an attempt by Farm Credit Corporation (Farm Credit Canada) to foreclose on the 53-year-old Village Green farmer's beef operation.
Mitchell was failing on his payments of about $400,000 worth of debt to the corporation when the federal agency moved in to seize his 500 head of cattle June 10.
"We're trying to get all the chambers of commerce across the province involved in the process as well," said Blair Aitken, past president of the Eastern PEI Chamber of Commerce.
"It's as simple as providing a link on a webpage so Sterling's meat can be accessed and purchased. We feel the different chambers will be supportive and we can champion some help for an Island farmer."
Islanders or supporters interested in purchasing beef in the campaign to help the farmer can check out the website at www.peiruralalliance.com or email savethefarm@peiruralalliance.com. -The Guardian
