Farms across Alberta will host visitors as part of the province’s Open Farm Days on Aug. 15 and 16, the province says in a news release on Aug. 5. The events will include open houses, local food experiences, tours and opportunities to buy locally grown and produced products.
“Albertans want to buy and eat local and Open Farm Days connects them with local farmers,” Devin Dreeshen, minister of agriculture and forestry, says in the news release. “Albertans can now buy direct everything from beer and whiskey, steak and potatoes, fruits and vegetables and everything in between.”
Open Farm Days this year will feature sparkling sour cherry black current juice, the release notes. The craft juice was made in collaboration with local partners using Alberta-grown ingredients and can be purchased at DNA Gardens and during Open Farm Days at Annex Ale Project in Calgary and select host farms.
“Alberta’s Open Farm Days is truly a celebration of Alberta’s bounty and those who create it. It is an opportunity for people to experience first-hand the innovations in agriculture and the care and stewardship these amazing farmers have to feed the world,” Tim Carson, CEO of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies, says in the release.
In order to follow COVID-19 procedures, those who plan to visit a host farm this year will have to book their spot online ahead of time through Farmzy, an online platform created by past Open Farm Days participants and fifth generation Alberta farming brothers Matt and Graham Graff. Visitors can visit albertafarmdays.ca to browse this year’s offerings.
Admission to farms is free, but there may be costs for some activities and many are cash only, the release notes. Alberta Open Farms Days is a collaborative project presented by the Government of Alberta, the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies, Travel Alberta and participating farms and ranches.
