News / Announcements:

Federation of Agriculture Highlighting Food Freedom Day

On February 12, 2009, the average Canadian will have earned enough income to pay his or her individual grocery bill for the whole year. In observing Food Freedom Day, farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador and across the country will celebrate their role in providing consumers with one of the safest and most inexpensive food supplies in the world.

While prices in some agriculture commodities soared in 2008, many consumers in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador were forced to consider the role that local farmers could play in providing the security of their food. The president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture, Merv Wiseman said, "While local food production in this province is highly prized for its nutritional value and unique flavour, other features such as food safety, health, environmental enhancements and rural economic development are becoming more and more prominent in the rationalization for a prosperous and vibrant agriculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador".

Thanks to farmers, Canadians still get the best deal in the western world for their food dollar. In many parts of the world, the cost of food is significantly higher. For example, Australians spend 12.7% more, the Japanese spend 35.7% more, and Mexicans spend over 125% more of their disposable income on food than Canadians.

People in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada are continuing to receive high quality, high-value food produced at the highest food safety and environmental standards. The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture would like to take this opportunity to thank our farmers for providing this service.