Press Release: Open Farms Tour

For: Week of September 12, 2011

Who’s Your Farmer?

You know your doctor, your dentist, your lawyer and your accountant.  But whose growing your food?  The National Farmers Union thinks it’s time to get to know your farmer and has organized a tour of 16 farms in the region.   The second annual Open Farms tour is all about making connections with growers of meat, vegetables and fruit and dairy producers.  “Food is something we take for granted,” says tour organizer Sharon Freeman.    “Most of us don’t give much thought to what we put into our mouths.  But, the consequences for our health, the economy and our communities can be huge.  Getting to know our local producers and choosing their products benefits us all.”  The farms are in and around the Kingston area and span between Tamworth to the west and Lyndhurst to the east.   Much like the popular art studio tours, the public can choose which farms they wish to visit and take a leisurely drive while they enjoy the fall colours.  “The tour really is a feast for the senses at this most bountiful time of year,” says Freeman.   Each farm is unique in what it grows and what it will have to show.  Some will demonstrate equipment.  Some will have animals to view and others will have products for sale and may offer samples.  “This is the perfect opportunity to educate our children about where food comes from and to take advantage of the height of the harvest by purchasing freshly picked produce right at farmgate,”  says Freeman.  To download a map of the tour, got to www.openfarms.ca.

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For more information, contact Sharon Freeman at 613-353-6889.

For Event Calendars

Who’s Your Farmer?

Find out by taking the Open Farms tour on Sunday, September 18th from 10am-4pm.  Sixteen farms in the region are swinging open their gates to invite the public to “Meet your meat” and “Visit your veg”.  Go to www.openfarms.ca for more info.