Confederation Building will be lit in red and white tonight, in recognition of Food Day Canada, taking place tomorrow, July 31. This annual, celebration is held to recognize Canada’s farmers and food producers and the work they do to provide high quality, nutritious food for Canadians.
The Provincial Government is committed to increasing Newfoundland and Labrador’s food self-sufficiency, and is working to support the aquaculture and agriculture industries, and the hard-working women and men who make their livelihoods in these sectors.
Aquaculture management and development is an important part of the Provincial Government’s commitment to food self-sufficiency and economic development. The province’s finfish companies and shellfish operators are working to expand sites and increase production in a safe and sustainable manner, with significant increases in production anticipated over the next few years.
More salmon and trout sites are expected to be licenced in 2021, and potential aquaculture development in the Bays West area of the island’s south coast is expected to secure 15,000 metric-tonnes of salmonid production and over 100 jobs for that area.
The commitment to increase Newfoundland and Labrador’s food self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetables from 10 per cent to 20 per cent by 2022 has resulted in a steady increase from 10 to 17.3 per cent. This percentage is based on the cumulative amount of food-producing agricultural land being put into production year over year.
The recent addition of approximately 700 acres of cleared, agricultural Crown land for large-scale potato production is expected to exceed the 20 per cent food target, when the land is in full production and harvested.
The Provincial Government continues to support new and existing farmers through funding programs. In 2020-21, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership funded 168 projects. Another 103 projects were funded through the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program.
In 2021, the Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Development at Wooddale prepared more than four million vegetable transplants, including cabbage, rutabaga, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, leek and asparagus, for eligible commercial famers for this growing season.
Transplanting helps crops reach full maturity in a short growing season, promotes higher marketable yields, and allows for a more diverse variety, compared to direct seeding. The department also supported the construction of regional cold storage facilities in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Robinsons. Certified cold storage facilities are vital for farmers to plant more crops, over-winter more vegetables, utilize valuable agriculture land to the fullest, and offer retailers stable pricing with the assurance of a long-term, sustainable vegetable supply.
The Community Garden Support Program is supporting increased food self-sufficiency. Last year, 124 new and enhanced community gardens increased residents’ access to fresh food. This year, there is opportunity to produce even more local fruits and vegetables, with an increase in grants from $500 to $750 to help eligible municipalities and organizations grow more than 130 community gardens in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quotes
“Food Day Canada is a fantastic opportunity to say thank you to the hard-working farmers and producers who put food on our tables every day. Thanks to their dedication, we are well on our way to meeting our commitment to increase Newfoundland and Labrador’s food self-sufficiency.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“Through the dedication and determination of hard-working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we have developed an environmentally-responsible sea farming industry that will meet the world’s growing demand for sustainably-sourced and healthy food, and establish our province as a leading location for aquaculture. As our industry expands, it is providing the economic growth our province so dearly needs, by creating year-round jobs, business opportunities and bright economic futures for rural, coastal communities.
Mark Lane
Executive Director, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
“As we mark Food Day Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture encourages consumers to choose local on this day and throughout the year. Food Day Canada recognizes the farmers across Newfoundland and the country, who are working hard to produce more food and make us more self-sufficient. We are thrilled with the support that the provincial government has given to our expansive industry as we seek to grow it and increase food security.”
Wayne Simmons
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
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Media contacts
Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-729-3733, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca
Mark Lane
Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
709-754-2854, 689-8536
mark@naia.ca
Wayne Simmons
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
709-632-4593
waynejsimmons69@gmail.com