Milton, Ontario – AgScape, a leader in innovative agriculture and food education for youth and educators in Ontario, proudly announces the remarkable impact of its programs, events, and resources during Local Food Week 2023. During the week-long celebration, AgScape provided K-12 students across Ontario with over 55,000 agriculture and food education experiences, leaving a lasting impression on youth across the province.
Held from June 5th to 11th, Local Food Week in Ontario is an annual celebration that raises awareness about the importance of consuming local food and supporting local farmers, producers and businesses. The week highlights the diversity of locally grown and produced food and encourages Ontarians to make informed choices that support their local food system.
Throughout Local Food Week, AgScape hosted a series of captivating Virtual Food and Farm Field Trips in partnership with Farm & Food Care Ontario. Through these immersive experiences, students and their teachers embarked on a virtual journey to explore Ontario’s unique food system, including a berry farm, asparagus farm, fish farm, apiary and egg farm. Guided by knowledgeable experts, students discovered diverse facets of Ontario’s agriculture industry, gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable farming practices, food production, and local farmers’ critical roles in nurturing our communities.
“It was a great experience working with AgScape to show the next generation the exciting world of honeybees,” said Graeme Foers, Head Beekeeper at Lost Meadows Apiaries & Meadery. “The behind-the-scenes work of farming is often not accessible for kids to see, and AgScape works hard to make this possible. Through this Virtual Food and Farm Field Trip, I hope I inspired youth to think about being a beekeeper as a future career!”
Agscape’s initiatives during Local Food Week extended beyond engaging virtual events. Its Teacher Ambassador Program played a pivotal role in bringing agriculture and food literacy to classrooms across Ontario. AgScape’s Teacher Ambassadors delivered curriculum-linked lessons in both English and French, providing students with memorable learning experiences that helped them develop a deeper connection to their food sources. Furthermore, AgScape’s Local Food Week Digital Teacher Resource Package, consisting of engaging lesson plans and activities, empowered educators to seamlessly integrate agriculture and food education into their classrooms.
“We are very pleased that our educational offerings for Local Food Week were a resounding success, with educators and students embracing our programs, events, and resources with great enthusiasm,” said Mira Lyonblum, Executive Director of AgScape. “We witnessed firsthand the transformative power of agricultural and food education, as students emerged with a heightened understanding of the importance of supporting local food systems and developed a deep appreciation for local farmers and producers.”
Source : Agscape