Province invests $81,000 to help source more farm-fresh local food

Farmers now have access to an enhanced online tool, allowing them to connect directly with food service and retail operations to get more farm-fresh food on Albertan’s tables.

The Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association (AFFPA) was granted $81,000 to enhance its online producer directory by Agriculture and Forestry, through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

“This initiative will help solidify the connections between the agriculture producers who want to direct market and their potential customers. It will also heighten the image of this segment of the industry, highlighting what products are available from Alberta producers,” said Rod Bradshaw, Beck Farms.

AFFPA will expand its directory to include more producer profiles and build awareness of high quality farm-fresh food that the province is known for. Their website will give retailers, wholesalers, restaurants, along with the food service industry more opportunities to connect with farms. This comes in part, with the recent increase in demand for local food.

Their site upgrades/enhancements include:

• Additional and more detailed product categories.
• Identification of additional certifications and licensing.
• More marketing channels for producers to include food service and retail.
• Improved search and mapping capabilities.

AFFPA will also offer farmers and ranchers complimentary memberships for 2020 and 2021.