Crosby Marketing Communications has been awarded a one-year contract
Crosby Marketing Communications has won a US$2.9 million, one-year contract with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a national awareness campaign to help prevent the introduction and spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the U.S. The campaign will educate the nation’s commercial pork producers, large-animal veterinarians, and pig owners about the disease, which has already caused the loss of half the world’s swine population.
ASF is a deadly, highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It does not affect human health but quickly spreads between swine, and people can also spread it on their clothing, farming equipment or by transporting uncooked pork products.
ASF has never been detected in the U.S. but has recently been confirmed in countries as close as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. If discovered here, it could decimate the pork industry and farming communities, costing the industry as much as US$8 billion in just one year. It could also affect American families nationwide with shortages of pork products and higher prices for years to come.
Crosby will deploy an integrated national campaign to educate target audiences about the imminent danger of ASF, including strategic planning, creative development, media relations, social media outreach, partnerships and digital communications. The campaign will communicate how to protect pigs, spot ASF symptoms, and report signs of the disease. Crosby will support a nationwide crisis communications effort by USDA if the virus is detected in the U.S.
“A single case of African swine fever could ravage America’s swine population and devastate our nation’s pork industry, farming communities, and economy,” said Crosby CEO and President Raymond Crosby. “We are helping the USDA mobilize every pork producer, farmer, backyard pig owner and veterinarian to band together and take action now to help protect the pig population and people’s livelihoods.”
Crosby has supported the USDA’s work protecting the nation’s agriculture and environment for nearly two decades. Other campaigns include educating key audiences about a variety of invasive plants, pests and diseases that threaten the country’s natural resources.
Crosby provides integrated advertising, public relations, social media and digital marketing services through specialized practices in healthcare, government, nonprofits and causes, and military and veterans. Named the 2021 North America Small PR Agency of the Year by PRovoke Media, Crosby ranks No. 22 on O’Dwyer’s list of national communications firms, and is a top provider on the GSA Professional Services Schedule. The firm has been a Washington Post Top Workplace for five consecutive years.
