Thousands of people are expected at farms across Prince Edward Island for Open Farm Day 2014 on September 21, as farmers open their doors to the public.
At this year’s 29 participating farms, families will be able to get close to farm animals, watch cows being milked, dig up some potatoes, taste new grape varieties, pick apples and other fruit and take wagon rides through fields. Visitors will also see parts of agriculture that don’t immediately come to mind when they think about agriculture, including alpacas and Christmas trees.
Quick Facts
• The event has funding support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial governments and the PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee, which represents more than a dozen agriculture and rural organizations and associations.
• The agriculture and agri-food industry is Prince Edward Island’s leading industry. Farm cash receipts totaled $497 million in 2013.
• The federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 agreement in Prince Edward Island signed in April of 2013 provides $37 million in federal and provincial funding over five years to assist farmers, processors and exporters in their goal to be innovative, competitive, sustainable and profitable.
Quotes
“Open Farm Day is the perfect opportunity for families to learn about food production in the Atlantic region by visiting a working farm and talking with their local hard-working producers.”
– Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz
"Open Farm Day is a great opportunity to learn more about our agriculture industry, the people who work in it and the wonderful high quality products they deliver to consumers. I encourage everyone to take in what promises to be an interesting and enjoyable day."
- Minister of Agriculture and Forestry George Webster
“Open Farm Day provides the general public with fun and interactive ways to experience life on a farm, while showcasing hard working farm families from across the Island.”
-JoAnn Pineau, Open Farm Day Coordinator for Prince Edward Island
A list of Open Farm Day locations in Prince Edward Island is available at:
www.peiagsc.ca/openfarmday