Tomorrow marks the fifth annual Canada's Agriculture Day and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, will join farmers, ranchers, food processors, sector leaders and youth to raise a fork to the food we love and the people who produce it.
This year's celebration focuses on strengthening the relationship between consumers and producers who share a common love and appreciation for home-grown food, under the theme "Forks Up For Canadian Agriculture."
During Canada's Agriculture Day, Minister Bibeau will deliver opening remarks at Agriculture More Than Ever's virtual celebration event. In the lead-up to the event, Minister Bibeau joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a virtual farm tour with Kelly Smith-Fraser, owner of Nuhaven Cattle Company near Pine Lake, Alberta and Sylvain Terrault, President and General Manager of Hydroserre Mirabel, a greenhouse complex that produces cucumbers and peppers in Sainte-Clotilde-de-Châteauguay, Quebec.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers like Smith-Fraser and Terrault are working hard to ensure Canadians continue to have access to high-quality products on grocery store shelves and kitchen tables.
Canada's farmers and food processors have also been instrumental in supporting their communities and helping those in need by donating huge quantities of locally produced meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables to food banks and food rescue organizations across the country. Through the pandemic, the Government of Canada has been actively supporting farmers and food businesses with programs that are helping them keep their businesses strong, sustainable and growing. Emergency measures during the pandemic have included the Canada Emergency Business Account and over $200 million for emergency safety programs that are helping farmers and food processors keep their businesses running and their workers safe.
For more information:
Agriculture more than ever
www.agriculturemorethanever.ca