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By Alice McFarlane

Canada's Ag Day

Raise a fork to food and the people who produce it

Feb 11, 2020 | 10:29 AM

Canada’s Agriculture Day Tuesday serves as a reminder to consumers that good food is grown close to home.

Canadian consumers are only one step removed from the people who produce most of the food that lands on their dinner tables.

Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) director of industry and stakeholder relations Marty Seymour said many consumers would be surprised to learn that the safest and highest quality food is grown only a few kilometres from the city where they live, or processed and distributed in a plant that employs their friends and neighbours.

“There’s actually only one degree of separation between consumers and the people who produce their food,” he said. “But in our fast-paced urban environments, we sometimes lose sight of that fact.”

FCC released a video as part of a campaign aimed at ensuring consumers understand and appreciate food grown by Canadian producers comes from one of the safest, most diverse and most affordable food systems in the world.

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Seymour said a survey by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity showed three in five Canadians have an interest in learning more about agriculture and modern farm practices.

The survey also showed farmers are viewed in a very positive way ahead of health professionals, scientific researchers and government officials when it comes to providing information about food and food production.

“There’s a strong and growing appetite among consumers to learn more about the food they buy and they want information straight from the individuals who grow it,” he said. “If you can’t talk directly to a farmer, the next time you’re in a grocery store look at the labels to find out where the main ingredients come from and where it was processed.”

By choosing to buy Canadian-produced food and food products, consumers are supporting the local and Canadian economies. In 2018, Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing sector which includes meat and dairy processing, grain and oilseed milling, and fruit and vegetable preserving was valued at over $117 billion. It is two per cent of the national gross domestic product and accounts for roughly 250,000 jobs, many in rural and agricultural areas.

Seymour said the fourth anniversary of Canada’s Agriculture Day will focus on strengthening the relationship between consumers and producers.

“Conversations on Canada’s Agriculture Day and throughout the year are important for building trust between consumers and the people who grow and process the food we eat,” he said. “The stronger the connection becomes, the more likely consumers will choose Canadian products offered on the grocery store shelf.”

“While there’s a strong economic argument for supporting Canadian agriculture, we should also be driven by a strong sense of pride,” he said. “Let’s show our pride and appreciation for Canadian growers and the work they do by buying Canadian food and food products whenever possible.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF