Fisheries and Land Resources
September 14, 2017
Farmers Welcome Visitors on Open Farm Day
Open Farm Day is being celebrated across the province on Sunday, September 17. Farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador will once again open their doors to give the public a first-hand look at how local farms contribute to Canadian agriculture.
There are a wide range of farms participating, including vegetable, berry, greenhouse, honeybee and livestock operations. Open Farm Day gives people of all ages the opportunity to see where their food comes from and how farms operate. Last year, 19 participating farms welcomed more than 4,200 visitors in Newfoundland and Labrador on Open Farm Day.
Open Farm Day in Atlantic Canada is funded, in part, by Growing Forward 2, the five-year (2013-2018) policy framework agreement between the Federal and Provincial governments. There are more than 8,500 farms and more than one million hectares of farmland in Atlantic Canada.
The Newfoundland and Labrador agriculture industry provides approximately 6,500 jobs and has primary and value-added production worth approximately $550 million.
Quotes
“Open Farm Day provides a unique opportunity for families to visit local farms and learn directly from farmers about all the great work they are doing growing crops and livestock here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our government sees agriculture as an important industry with tremendous potential, both in terms of economic development and improving provincial food self-sufficiency, which is why partnering with industry players on growth and development is a key part of our Way Forward for the province.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
“Open Farm Day is the perfect time to meet local farmers and experience life on the farm. I encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to come and see the world-class products our farmers and farm families help bring to our kitchen tables here at home and around the world every day.”
Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
“Open Farm Day provides an opportunity to showcase our industry to the public while creating educational opportunities for hands-on learning about where their food comes from. Events like this also provide great agriculture awareness and raise the profile of topics like food security while families enjoy a fun day on the farm.”
Merv Wiseman
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
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Learn More
Open Farm Day Participating Farms - www.nlfa.ca
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and @FLR_GovNL
Media contacts
Connie Boland
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6409
connieboland@gov.nl.ca
Chelsea Foley
Open Farm Day Coordinator
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
709-747-4874
Chelsea@nlfa.ca
Lesley Cowan
Regional Communications Officer
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
709-793-3111
Lesley.Cowan@AGR.GC.CA
2017 09 14 11:55 a.m.