Heart of the harvest

Harvest – a period of thanks and reflection for the people who fill our tables.

Each year, Agriculture and Food Week starts when Albertans sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

It’s a cornucopia of communications activity including: Food for Thought at retail stores and libraries, Food for Thought TV (a documentary airing Tuesday, October 9 at 7:00 PM on the Global television network across Alberta), community harvest events, newspaper supplements, information materials, media kits, radio programs and The GALAs (the Growing Alberta Leadership Awards). The idea is to raise awareness for the many benefits the agriculture and food industry reaps for Alberta.

“It’s a natural time of year to be aware of agriculture because harvest is happening all around us,” says Aaron Falkenberg, Chair, Growing Alberta. “We often think of harvest as the heart of agriculture.”

Today, there’s more to harvest than combines on the field. Through Agriculture and Food Week, we let people know that Alberta is breaking new frontiers everywhere from crop production to food safety, life sciences and beyond.

“Harvest is an emotional time,” says Falkenberg. “We can’t control the weather or global commodity markets and frankly for some this year has been heartbreaking. But, where there’s harvest, there’s hope. Today, we’re investing in diversified crops, creative processing techniques, exciting technological innovations and new markets in all corners of the globe. We’re sowing seeds for a future that was inconceivable to our parents. It’s a future that’s strong and sustainable.”

Mentoring leaders

Learning from leaders and innovators is one key way the industry keeps moving to the future Falkenberg dreams of.

Each year, awards are presented during Agriculture and Food Week at the industry’s annual Harvest Gala ball, to those who exemplify leadership and innovation in food safety, nutrition/life sciences, the environment and economic/market development.

“Through The GALAs, we profile people and organizations who are making huge strides in our industry’s growth,” says GALAs Chair, Greg Porozni. “These individuals set new standards for all of us and they open our minds to new ways of meeting consumer needs, respecting the environment and pursuing new markets. You could say GALA winners are the agriculture and food industry’s mentors.”

National link

Alberta’s Agriculture and Food Week is part of a national celebration that runs from coast to coast.

“More and more, Canadians are recognizing the enormous impact agriculture and food has on Canada’s economy, trade balance and quality of life,” says Ken McCready, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “In Alberta, where food production is the province’s second largest economic sector, it’s vitally important. It’s not surprising that Alberta’s high energy approach is mirrored in the way the industry approaches this celebration.”

National Agriculture and Food Week celebration activities include newspaper supplements and information kits distributed to schools and media.

As you drive down Alberta’s highways this fall, give a wave to those driving the combines. They, and all the other people who bring food to our tables, are the heart of Alberta’s harvest.

Agriculture and Food Week Happenings

• Watch Food for Thought TV – Tuesday, October 9, 7:00 PM on Global Television Network
• Watch for local Growing Alberta events in rural communities near you
• Pick up a Growing Alberta harvest bookmark and magazine in your local library, Safeway, IGA, Calgary Co-op, Save-On Foods, Sunterra and Alberta Treasury Branches
• Check out www.growingalberta.com for information on this year's GALA winners, stories about Alberta's harvest and scrumptious recipes
• Email us at info@growingalberta.com for a Harvest Headlines information kit.