Al's Burger Bus enjoys some 'Burger Love'

A group of friends jumped on a bus to kick off "Burger Love."

Al's Burger Bus visited 11 restaurants Wednesday to taste the special burgers designed for the month long celebration ofP.E.I beef.

Sixty restaurants are taking part and each has designed a burger that they hope will win them the honour of having P.E.I.'s best burger.

Al Douglas is a self-proclaimed burger fanatic. So he and like-minded burger lovers chartered a bus to take them from burger to burger to burger.

"Everyone here with us today is here for the love burgers, the love of beef," said Douglas.

Each paid $20 to taste a smaller version of the burgers made with 100 per cent P.E.I. beef.

In addition to the burgers, restaurants try to use toppings made from local products and even create some new local side dishes.

"I eat burgers pretty much all year round," Douglas said. "It's pretty much my main food group and having a whole month dedicated to it is just a blessing."

Burger Love started as an initiative of Fresh Media, a creative agency based in P.E.I.which connectedwiththe Cattle Producers Association of P.E.I. and the province. The campaignstarted asa way to boostsales of local beef and the local restaurant industry.

It also happened to come at a time when farmers were trying torecover after the mad cow disease crisis wounded the industry in 2003.

This is the fifth year for the contest and past winners have had increased sales after winning along with local bragging rights.

More than $1 million worth of burgers were sold over 30 days in 2014.

"That's the best part about it. Supporting local is the best thing to do these days," said Douglas."It supports the economy, it supports everybody and it creates jobs. It keeps everybody busy."

Burger Love continues until April 30. People can vote online for their favourite burger.