AHEAD of Small Business Saturday (tomorrow, December 7) the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is urging people to support rural businesses this festive season, by buying locally and celebrating the quality of produce and products available in the region.

CLA South West represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Regional Director Ann Maidment said: “Buying locally, whether it is seasonal festive food and drink, Christmas trees, gifts or decorations, helps contribute to a vibrant rural economy. There is certainly a wide variety of suppliers of local products in our region, from fruit and vegetable growers to award-winning gin distilleries.

“Many people will already be regular visitors to farm shops and farmers’ markets to pick up gifts and food for Christmas. These businesses provide jobs, goods and services for local communities, attract tourism and provide a boost to our rural economy.?“It is important to remember that although the festive period is relatively short, the time and care taken to grow produce for Christmas takes a lot longer and thanks should be given to the farming community for their efforts to put food on our tables.”

Small Business Saturday, a campaign that highlights small business success and encourages consumers to shop local, takes place tomorrow, Saturday, December 7, and is hoped to generate a lot of support for small businesses, both rural and urban.

Ann Maidment added: “Small Business Saturday provides an important impetus for consumers to support small businesses in their communities, not just in the run up to Christmas, but throughout the year.”

The festive rallying call by the CLA comes following the launch of its Rural Powerhouse campaign last month that aims to unleash the potential of the rural economy.

“The rural economy has immense potential for economic growth and job creation, but we need the right policies to unleash it,” said Ann. “We will be working hard to ensure the next Government, when it is in place, fully understands the vital role that rural businesses play in supporting the UK economy.”