(Submitted photo/Matthew Dukart)

By Angie Rolheiser

Homegrown Food

Food Day Canada proclaimed by Saskatchewan Government

Jul 30, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Consumers are being encouraged to celebrate local food on Saturday July 31 for Food Day Canada.

The day is an opportunity to celebrate Canada’s farmers, ranchers, fishers, processors, chefs, researchers and home cooks for all their hard work and dedication.

Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Todd Lewis said the nationwide celebration of food and farming is a good day to give some thought as to where food comes from.

“Saskatchewan is a huge part of our economy, we grow vegetables and fruit and all sorts of food that goes directly to restaurants and to grocery stores right here in Saskatchewan,” Lewis said.

The day is also about recognizing how much the agriculture sector supports the entire economy of the province, Lewis said. Lewis also stressed the importance of supporting local.

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“In many cases in the fruit and veggie sector, it is the smaller producers as well,” Lewis said. “Canada relies heavily on imported foods in the winter months but we provide some great local products in the summer that should be looked at and are readily available across the province.”

Saskatchewan is largely known for meat, cattle and wheat but there are many other things that are often overlooked according to Lewis.

“Canola and wheat on the crop side are definitely the king. Those two are an example of where Canada is a world leader and Saskatchewan especially,” Lewis said. “When you look at pulse production in the province, peas and lentils, we are major exporters of that.”

Lewis added that Saskatchewan is the largest mustard producer in the world.

“There is a good chance that the yellow mustard sitting on your table that people are putting on their hot dog on July 31, that mustard probably come from Saskatchewan,” Lewis said.

He also mentioned garlic, vegetables, and honey that are widely produced in Saskatchewan.

“We are going through hard times with drought and with COVID as well, there has never been a more opportune time to talk about food and where it comes from and who supplies it,” Lewis said. “When we look at the empty grocery store shelves last year and that was the first time that many people had experienced that in Canada.”

The Saskatchewan Government, as well as all the major cities such as Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Weyburn, have proclaimed July 31 as Food Day Canada.

“I think that speaks to how important agriculture is here and if we don’t have support in urban Canada it makes it more difficult for agriculture,” Lewis said.

Food Day Canada originated in 2003 to support the Canadian cattle industry. Since then, it has evolved to an annual summer celebration of not only the agriculture industry, but also the culinary culture and food management system.

“We should all recognize our agriculture industry for everything they do to help feed the world,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a release. “We are fortunate to have an abundance of healthy food grown here at home, and I’m proud the province is participating in Food Day Canada.”

Getting involved in Food Day Canada is as easy as shopping at your local farmer’s market, cooking up a family meal over a campfire, trying a new recipe or dining at your favourite Canadian restaurant. People can also share how they are celebrating by using #FoodDayCanada online.

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angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser