Open Farm Days relaunches

By Janet Kanters, Editor

Albertans, now more than ever, are interested in exploring and learning more about Alberta grown food and the producers who grow it.

Open Farm Days showcases Alberta’s agriculture industry and growing rural tourism sector. Host farms open their gates to share their agricultural experiences with their urban neighbours and to help them understand where their food comes from.

Area farms and ranches interested in being part of this year’s Open Farm Days, running Aug. 15-16, are asked to apply by June 30 at albertafarmdays.ca.

Hosts will receive supports, including hand sanitizers, insurance, access to a culinary coach and other resources to make hosting easier. Organizers are also working on an online booking system to manage the number of people coming to their farms.

In addition, organizers are offering alternative ways that farms and ranches can participate during the weekend, such as instructional videos and virtual tours.

In 2019, more than 150 host farms were part of Open Farm Days, and 29 culinary events helped connect urban and rural Albertans. Host farms have included traditional farms, livestock farms and ranches, organic operations, corn mazes, wineries, meaderies, craft breweries, stables and petting zoos, along with honey, fruit, vegetable, grain and u-pick farms.

Since 2013, Open Farm Days has seen nearly 125,000 person visits, injecting close to $900,000 into the rural economy through on-farm sales. The public has enjoyed visiting 634 Alberta farms since its launch.