Aug. 4, 2011, Vancouver — British Columbians, hungry for farm fresh
produce, can celebrate their local farmer at the second annual B.C.
Farmers Appreciation Week (FAW) at Farmers’ Markets throughout the
province through to Aug. 6.
Aug. 4, 2011, Vancouver — British Columbians, hungry for farm fresh produce, can celebrate their local farmer at the second annual B.C. Farmers Appreciation Week at Farmers’ Markets throughout the province through to Aug. 6.
Abbotsford West MLA Michael de Jong and Minister of Health will speak at the event at the Abbotsford Farmers’ Market on Aug. 6 at 11 am.
The B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets is excited to co-host the events at the Abbotsford, Burnaby and Kelowna farmers’ markets in partnership with Save-On-Foods, a major sponsor.
BC has the most diverse agricultural industry within Canada, notes Elizabeth Quinn, manager of the BCAFM. “This year the event is growing and will be held in over 20 farmers’ markets across the province.”
“As Western Canada’s largest independent grocery retailer, we’re proud to be the number one supporter of local growers, ranchers and suppliers throughout British Columbia and Alberta, doing business with more than 1,200 different growers and producers in both provinces,” said Save-On-Foods spokesperson Julie Dickson Olmstead. “We’re very proud to say that, when in season, more than 75 per cent of the fresh fruits and vegetables we sell are grown locally and over thousands of Western Family items, including Western Family beef and Western Family chicken, just to name a few, are produced here at home."
In B.C., farmers make up only 1.6 per cent of the population; yet, they produce an estimated 48 per cent of all foods consumed in the province.
The B.C. Association of Farmers’ Markets is a not-for-profit association, representing 103 farmers markets, including 1,000 farmers.
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