Twenty Island farms will open their doors to the public on Sunday, September 19, for the 9th annual Open Farm Day, a Maritime-wide agricultural showcase where people learn more about local food production.
"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."
"Open Farm Day provides a great opportunity for Islanders and visitors to learn more about the province's number one industry, and to see what life is like on a modern farm operation," said Prince Edward Island Agriculture Minister George Webster. "It is important to strengthen relationships between producers and consumers, and to increase awareness and understanding of the vital role that agriculture plays in our society."
A total of 116 farms in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are participating in this year's Open Farm Day. The event is being supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sobey's Inc., provincial governments and agriculture awareness committees in the Maritimes.
This year's theme is "Planting our roots, growing our children's future."
"This is a chance to connect with local food producers and the farming way of life," said Nick Policelli, coordinator of Open Farm Day on Prince Edward Island. "Open Farm Day is one of the highlights of the year for the P.E.I. Agriculture Awareness Committee and we encourage the pubic to take part."
The agriculture and food industry is the leading industry in Prince Edward Island. It accounts for roughly one in every four jobs in the province. In 2009 annual farm cash receipts totalled more than $395 million.
The Government of Canada and the Province of Prince Edward Island continue to support the agriculture sector through Growing Forward, a $24.6-million, multi-year series of federal and provincial agricultural programs that assist P.E.I. farmers in becoming more profitable and competitive.
A list of Open Farm Day locations in Prince Edward Island is available at: www.gov.pe.ca/af/peiopenfarmday