Nova Scotians will be able to meet a farmer at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth on Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19.
The event, now in its sixth year, will feature information booths in the Bay Court hosted by Nova Scotia farm organizations and cooking demonstrations made with local foods. A farm animal display will be located outside in the Old Navy courtyard and will include a sheep shearing demonstration. New to the event this year are fibre art demonstrations, Belle the milkable dairy cow, and a chance for kids to make pollinator seed bombs and sheep dolls.
“This annual event is an opportunity for people to make a connection to the farmers who are helping to feed their families,” said Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell. “This connection helps raise awareness among consumers and encourages them to support our agricultural industry by buying local.”
The event is supported by the federal and provincial governments through Growing Forward 2, the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and affiliated commodity groups.
“With only two per cent of Canadians now having a direct link to the farm, there is a need to educate people about the importance and value of the agriculture and agri-food industry,” said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay. “Meet Your Farmer at the Mall allows the public to talk directly to the people who are making our industry a world leader in food quality and safety.”
About 23,000 people visit Mic Mac Mall each day, making the event a good opportunity for farmers to connect with the public and talk about the agriculture industry and the importance of buying local.
“Meet Your Farmer at the Mall is a welcomed opportunity for farmers to share their story and have conversations with Nova Scotians about every day farming practices,” said Chris van den Heuvel, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
For more information on the event, go to www.meetyourfarmer.ca.
Source: Release