Riverbrook Farmers Market officially opened

Member of Parliament, Gerry Byrne for the constituency of Humber St. Barbe Baie Verte, on behalf of Andy Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, joined Ed Byrne, provincial Minister of Natural Resources, today in congratulating Elvis Gillam on the official opening of Riverbrook Farmers Market in Corner Brook.

�Local farm producers are striving to expand their production and this facility is the ideal location to sell that local produce,� said MP Byrne. �Having a permanent outlet like this will help increase the profile of the agriculture industry in this part of the province.�

�I want to commend Mr. Gillam for the leadership he has shown in promoting local produce in the western region,� said Minister Byrne. �We need to continue to increase the awareness that locally-grown produce is available and the development of such direct markets as the Riverbrook Farmers Market is a way to make sure the people of this province can buy local produce.�

Last year, Riverbrook Farms, operated by Mr. Gillam, received $67,265 under the Market Development Initiative of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agricultural Policy Framework Implementation Agreement for the development of the farmers� market building, as well as the purchase of related equipment that will help ensure product freshness for consumers. The Market Development Initiative provides the resources necessary to investigate and capture new market opportunities and enhance the competitive capability of the agriculture sector.

For 25 years, Mr. Gillam has sold fresh farm products directly to consumers in Corner Brook and for the past 16 years, he has operated a farm market out of a mobile trailer.

�We are entering a new era today with this new location,� said Elvis Gillam. �It means an extended business season and an opportunity for consumers to buy high-quality local produce.�

Riverbrook Farms is one of the largest mixed vegetable farms on the West Coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The farm has been in business for 28 years with 98 acres of land in Loch Leven, near St. Fintan�s. There are 32 acres of land in annual production, including potatoes, turnip, cabbage and speciality crops. Mr. Gillam has another 20 acres of forage and green manure in production.

Newfoundland and Labrador was the first province to sign the Agricultural Policy Framework Implementation Agreement in May of 2003. Under the five year agreement, an estimated $32 million in federal and provincial funding will be available for programs and projects to help the provincial agriculture and agri-food sector reach greater profitability.

Media contact:

Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, (613)759-7972, 1-866-345-7972

Matt Tolley, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, (613) 759-1059

Jonathan Snow, Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, (709) 637-2071, jonathansnow@gov.nl.ca

2005 09 16                            2:05 p.m.