Opening Eyes and Minds with Open Farm Day

Farmers across the province will once again be opening their gates for the 17th annual Open Farm Day on Sunday, September 16th. Over 30 farms are ready to welcome thousands of Nova Scotians to their operations including vineyards, orchards, livestock, and much more.

Open Farm Day is an Atlantic Canada-wide event with New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island participating alongside Nova Scotia. This event is supported by joint federal and provincial funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3 billion investment that sets a solid foundation for the future of Canada’s farmers and food processors, helping them grow, innovate, and prosper.

“The agriculture and agri-food industry is a Canadian success story, creating jobs and contributing more than $114 billion to our national economy,” said Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Lawrence MacAulay. “Our Government is proud to support the farmers and entrepreneurs who are part of this story in communities across the country. I encourage Nova Scotians to take time during Open Farm Day to visit participating farms and see first-hand why Canadian farmers are world-class.”

“Open Farm Day is a great way for Nova Scotians to connect with the farmers who are working to help to feed their families and ensure the sustainability of our food supply,” said Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell. “Nova Scotia has about 3500 farms that employ 4,700 people in 2017. These farms, and the people working them, make a significant contribution to our economy in many ways.”

Visitors will gain a better understanding of the agricultural industry in Nova Scotia and have fun while doing it. Every location offers activities with educational components such as: guided farm tours, displays, and demonstrations. Guests also get the chance to pick local produce, visit with livestock, taste wine and other food samples, go on wagon rides, purchase local products – for a full list of activities please visit the website listed at the bottom.

“Every farm has something different to offer visitors,” said Victor Oulton, President of Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. “It’s a great opportunity for folks to visit farms in their community or make a day of it and explore other areas of the province.”

In Nova Scotia, there are almost 30 recognized commodity groups – this year there are a wide variety of commodities represented with locations from one tip of the province to the other.

A list of participating farms can be found at www.meetyourfarmer.ca/openfarmday

-30-

The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture represents the interests of over 2400 farm families in Nova Scotia. Founded in 1895 to provide Nova Scotia’s farm community with a single voice, the NSFA is the province’s only general farm organization

For more information please contact:

Katie Hawkins
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059
Katie.Hawkins@agr.gc.ca

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
media.relations@agr.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture

Maxine MacLean
Policy and Communications Coordinator
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
(902) 893-2293
mmaclean@nsfa-fane.ca