Farms Welcome Visitors on Sept. 19
Agriculture
September 15, 2010 12:43 PM
Fifty-nine Nova Scotia farms will open their gates to visitors on Sunday, Sept. 19, for the 9th annual Open Farm Day, a Maritime-wide agricultural awareness event that lets people learn more about how their food is produced.
"A tour of Nova Scotia farms will provide a view of how they are run and operated and you may have a chance to see some of the innovations that our farmers are implementing," said Agriculture Minister John MacDonell. "Not only do farmers help bring good food to our table, they also provide jobs for Nova Scotians and help grow our economy."
"I encourage people to visit these farms and see for themselves why Canada has earned an international reputation for food quality, safety and innovation," said federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "The world-class product is there for everyone to see on the grocery shelf, but it's on the farm where you see the pride, hard work and dedication of our farmers backing that high quality."
Nova Scotia farms generate more than $472 million in revenue each year. The province's largest farm sectors are dairy, horticulture, poultry and eggs, and livestock.
"Open Farm Day provides a glimpse of life on Nova Scotia farms," said Beth Densmore, co-chair of the Nova Scotia agricultural awareness committee. "It's a chance to see how animals are looked after and how fruits and vegetables grow, and maybe even harvest your own. We hope you will take the day to experience the sights and smells, and especially taste some Nova Scotia grown produce."
About 10,000 visitors took part in activities in 2009. A map and list of participating farms is available at Sobeys, Price Chopper and Foodland stores. Information is also available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/agri .
The event is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Nova Scotia Agricultural Awareness Committee, Sobeys Inc. and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Growing Forward.
The government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia continue to support the agriculture sector through Growing Forward, a $25 million, multi-year series of federal and provincial agricultural programs that helps Nova Scotia farmers become more profitable and competitive.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Fifty-nine Nova Scotia farms will welcome visitors on Sunday
(September 19th) for the 9th annual Open Farm Day.
It is a Maritime-wide agricultural event where people
can learn more about how their food is produced.
Agriculture Minister John MacDonell says farmers not only
bring good food to the table, they provide jobs for Nova
Scotians and help grow the economy.
Last year, around 10-thousand visitors took part in Open
Farm Day activities.
A map of participating farms is available at Sobeys, Price
Chopper and Foodland stores. Information is also available on the
Department of Agriculture's website (www.gov.ns.ca/agri) .
-30-
Media Contacts: Susan Mader Zinck
Department of Agriculture
902-424-8963
E-mail: madersd@gov.ns.ca
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1-613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Meagan Murdoch
The Office Gerry Ritz
1-613-773-1059
Wanda Hamilton
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
902-893-2293
E-mail: whamilton@nsfa-fane.ca
Fifty-nine Nova Scotia farms will open their gates to visitors on Sunday, Sept. 19, for the 9th annual Open Farm Day, a Maritime-wide agricultural awareness event that lets people learn more about how their food is produced.
"A tour of Nova Scotia farms will provide a view of how they are run and operated and you may have a chance to see some of the innovations that our farmers are implementing," said Agriculture Minister John MacDonell. "Not only do farmers help bring good food to our table, they also provide jobs for Nova Scotians and help grow our economy."
"I encourage people to visit these farms and see for themselves why Canada has earned an international reputation for food quality, safety and innovation," said federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "The world-class product is there for everyone to see on the grocery shelf, but it's on the farm where you see the pride, hard work and dedication of our farmers backing that high quality."
Nova Scotia farms generate more than $472 million in revenue each year. The province's largest farm sectors are dairy, horticulture, poultry and eggs, and livestock.
"Open Farm Day provides a glimpse of life on Nova Scotia farms," said Beth Densmore, co-chair of the Nova Scotia agricultural awareness committee. "It's a chance to see how animals are looked after and how fruits and vegetables grow, and maybe even harvest your own. We hope you will take the day to experience the sights and smells, and especially taste some Nova Scotia grown produce."
About 10,000 visitors took part in activities in 2009. A map and list of participating farms is available at Sobeys, Price Chopper and Foodland stores. Information is also available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/agri .
The event is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Nova Scotia Agricultural Awareness Committee, Sobeys Inc. and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Growing Forward.
The government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia continue to support the agriculture sector through Growing Forward, a $25 million, multi-year series of federal and provincial agricultural programs that helps Nova Scotia farmers become more profitable and competitive.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Fifty-nine Nova Scotia farms will welcome visitors on Sunday
(September 19th) for the 9th annual Open Farm Day.
It is a Maritime-wide agricultural event where people
can learn more about how their food is produced.
Agriculture Minister John MacDonell says farmers not only
bring good food to the table, they provide jobs for Nova
Scotians and help grow the economy.
Last year, around 10-thousand visitors took part in Open
Farm Day activities.
A map of participating farms is available at Sobeys, Price
Chopper and Foodland stores. Information is also available on the
Department of Agriculture's website (www.gov.ns.ca/agri) .
-30-
Media Contacts: Susan Mader Zinck
Department of Agriculture
902-424-8963
E-mail: madersd@gov.ns.ca
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1-613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Meagan Murdoch
The Office Gerry Ritz
1-613-773-1059
Wanda Hamilton
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
902-893-2293
E-mail: whamilton@nsfa-fane.ca