The deadline for farmers to register as hosts is May 31
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
An ag event that’s gained popularity in other parts of the country is coming to Saskatchewan.
This August 10 and 11, farmers in the province will host members of their local community in Saskatchewan’s inaugural Open Farm Days.
Organized by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, this event sees participating farmers engage with people from urban neighbourhoods about agriculture, how farms work and how food ends up on grocery store shelves.
“I think it’s going to be very inspiring for people to see agriculture in our province because it is so ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability practices, (and) when we come to ethical farming,” Ashley Stone, Open Farm Days coordinator, told the Prince Albert Herald. “There are some really positive things and stories that will come out of this.”
In addition, Open Farm Days provides an opportunity for on-farm sales.
In Alberta, for example, more than 100 farms participated in 2023.
In total, on-farm sales during the event in 2023 reached $299,000. That’s up from $224,000 in 2022.
Since it started in 2012, Alberta Open Farm Days has generated more than $1.4 million in on-farm sales.
With 2024 being the first year for Saskatchewan’s Open Farm Days event, organizers looked to farmers from other parts of Canada, like Tammara Maher, who have participated in similar events.
Maher owns Collective Joy Farm, an indoor farm in Kingston, Ont., that produces microgreens, herbs and local food.
She took part in the Kingston/South Frontenac Open Farm Days for the first time in 2023 and found it to be a rewarding experience.
“I did a free open house where I showed people how I grow microgreens,” she told Farms.com. “This kind of event connects people to their food in a very tangible way and it goes beyond just supporting a local business, it also helps them understand what local food means. I think that’s very powerful.”
The deadline for Sask. farmers to register for Open Farm Days is May 31.
Maher encourages producers to get involved.
“Farmers are busy and welcoming people to the farm can seem like an inconvenience, but it’s a great opportunity to get new customers and have an opportunity to impact the way someone thinks about local food.”