Third Annual Canadian Agriculture and Food Celebration

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Third Annual Canadian Agriculture and Food Celebration

Visitors to the Ag Cot Discovery Centre at the Maritime Fall Fair will have a chance to see, touch and learn about livestock, crops and the diverse foods produced in Nova Scotia. The centre's varied display is part of the third annual Canadian Agriculture and Food Celebration taking place during October.

For the exhibit, the Nova Scotia Agriculture Awareness Committee also arranged a Nova Scotia cooking stage where chef Robert MacIsaac will prepare recipes with Nova Scotia products. The exhibit includes an interactive computer display called Where's Agriculture, a Nova Scotia Agricultural College putting green, and several commodity displays.

The Women's Institutes of Nova Scotia will distribute agricultural information and pumpkin seeds to kids as part of the Ag Cot display as well.

Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, said he welcomes this opportunity to highlight the importance of the agriculture industry in Nova Scotia.

"Agriculture is part of the foundation of our rural communities," said Mr. Fage. "It is important that our citizens understand the role of agriculture in Nova Scotia's economy and the impact it has in our everyday lives."

The agriculture and agri-food sector in Nova Scotia generates over $400 million in farm product sales each year. Sales of agri- food products that have been processed or are part of other products, for example apple juice, are approaching $1 billion. About 16,000 people are directly and indirectly employed in Nova Scotia's agriculture industry.

"Agriculture is a topic which is often overlooked unless a person is directly related to the industry," said Geneve Newcombe, Chair for the Nova Scotia Agriculture Awareness Committee. "We have put a lot of planning and effort into the awareness activities that will take place during October and throughout the year."

The Nova Scotia Agriculture Awareness Committee has representatives from farm and rural organizations, agri- businesses and the federal and provincial governments.

The Maritime Fall Fair takes place October 5-14 at Exhibition Park in the Halifax Regional Municipality. It promotes the maritime agricultural industry, focusing on education, entertainment and family.

For more information about the agriculture awareness activities in Nova Scotia, please call Ruth Grant, Agriculture Awareness Coordinator, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries at 902-893- 6598 or e-mail: [email protected] .