Encouraging Agriculture Awareness in Schools

Ministers Support Agriculture Literacy Week in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, and the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, are expressing their support for the province’s agriculture sector during Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week, March 2 to 9.

“Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week provides our young people with an opportunity to ask questions and understand the importance of the agriculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture is to be commended for the work it does to support the agriculture industry which is encouraging job creation and helping develop a vibrant economy.”
- The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency

Minister Jackman was at Rennie’s River Elementary in St. John’s today to help launch the book What’s growing around us? and to tour Little Green Thumb Gardens at the school. Throughout agriculture literacy week, farmers and industry representatives will also be visiting Grades 3-5 classrooms throughout the province and reading the book which is being donated to 80 classrooms.

“It is important for children to understand that the food they eat does not originate in the supermarket. When they know how fruit and vegetables are grown; how milk is produced, and why it is essential to protect our farmlands, it provides them with a much greater understanding of the environment in which they live – and the need to protect it.”
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education

The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture delivers the Agriculture in the Classroom program which received $281,000 in funding from Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative providing $37 million over five years to Newfoundland and Labrador’s agriculture and agrifoods industry.

“The Agriculture in the Classroom program gives students hands-on experience with the growing process, and the opportunity to meet farmers and individuals involved in the agriculture industry. Little Green Thumbs, a key element of this program, is an indoor gardening initiative that provides students with the opportunity to become food producers in their own classrooms.”
- Eugene Legge, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture

Through sound fiscal management and responsible decisions, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is strengthening the business environment, encouraging the development of innovative industries and building a vibrant economy.

QUICK FACTS

• Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week activities are underway in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The Agriculture in the Classroom program undertaken by the Federation of Agriculture gives students hands-on experience with the growing process, and the opportunity to meet farmers and individuals involved in the agriculture industry.
• The local agriculture and agrifoods industry is continually developing and diversifying with annual revenues of up to $130 million. The value of production from the agriculture and agrifoods industry, including secondary processing, is approximately $500 million per year.

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2014 03 04                                            10:50 a.m.