“Forks Up for Canadian Agriculture,” celebrates Canadian food producers

February 23, 2021 marks the fifth annual Canada’s Agriculture Day and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, joins food processors and sector leaders to celebrate 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 appreciation for home-grown food, under the theme “Forks Up For Canadian Agriculture.”

During Canada’s Agriculture Day, Minister Bibeau delivered 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.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) recently released survey results on buying Canadian food during COVID-19. The survey was conducted January 8-12, 2021 with 2,000 Canadians. When asked if their behaviour has changed since the start of the pandemic, 58 per cent of respondents said they were more likely to buy Canadian made or grown food, followed by 56 per cent who were more likely to look for Canadian made or grown food when they buy groceries, and 50 per cent were more likely to think about how their food is grown.

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.

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.