The Manitoba government is encouraging all Manitobans to celebrate the province’s vibrant, diverse, safe and sustainable agri-food system during the eighth annual Food and Farm Awareness Week.

“Manitoba’s agri-food industry produces a diverse range of delicious foods,” said Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson. “I encourage Manitobans to celebrate Food and Farm Awareness Week by trying new local products.”

Since its inception in 2015, the awareness week has been launched on the third Monday in September. The minister said the week’s activities provide important opportunities for Manitobans to learn about and celebrate the diversity of food production in the province, the hard-working people in the agri-food industry, and the importance of agriculture to the provincial economy.

The theme for this year is Engaging Manitobans on Our Agri-food Industry.

Manitoba Agriculture has launched a ‘selfie challenge’ on Twitter to highlight the diversity of the province’s agri-food industry. Manitobans are encouraged to follow @MBGovAg and share their passion for the industry by posting photographs of themselves at farms or enjoying meals made with Manitoba foods, accompanied by #FacesofMBAg and #FarmFoodAwarenessWeek.

As part of the week’s celebrations, Johnson and Mental Health and Community Wellness Minister Sarah Guillemard will proclaim Sept. 21 as Local Veggie Day to celebrate Manitoba farmers, local vegetables and initiatives across the province that nourish and support families and communities.

Johnson noted a variety of online resources provide information on Manitoba-produced foods and agriculture including:

  • the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre, which offers free educational resources about food and agriculture at umanitoba.ca;
  • the Great Tastes of Manitoba website, which offers recipes featuring Manitoba ingredients and Before the Plate Stories that profile farm families and agricultural communities at greattastesmb.ca;
  • the Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba website, which offers free resources and activities for educators and students at aitc.mb.ca; and
  • the local food page on Manitoba Agriculture’s website, which has more information on local farmers and processors and the delicious, healthy foods they produce at gov.mb.ca.

Before this year’s Food and Farm Awareness Week began, a free Discover the Farm event was held at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre on Sept. 18. This brought together urban and rural Manitobans to celebrate where our food comes from, Johnson noted. Manitoba Agriculture and agri-food organizations sponsored the event that included live animals, hands-on activities and free Manitoba food.

Nearly 40,000 Manitobans work in the agricultural industry, contributing significantly to Manitoba’s economy.