Atlantic Canadian farmers open their doors to the public for the 24th annual Open Farm Day
The gates were wide open and buckets were ready at Big Sky Ventures in Chipman N.B., Sunday as the organic Sea Buckthorn Orchard and Winery welcomed the public to see behind the scenes.
Beth Fowler, and her partner Clay Bartlett, first started the local farm in 2010, with trees being planted in 2012 before growing into the operation that it is today.
“Sea Buckthorn is a berry. It’s the first citrus, non-citrus fruit to be grown in the province. It’s got 190 bioactive, it is the most studied fruit on the planet,” said Fowler.
To help put it into perspective, she said it has 15 to 30 times more Vitamin C than an orange.
“[Clay] started doing research on what would help his daughter with her diabetes because he has a farm science background and I was doing business plans, kind of side hustle. So, I took a look at the fruit and I’ve got history and high blood pressure and fibromyalgia runs in parts of our family and arthritis is pretty interesting so let’s dig a little deeper,” said Fowler.
The duo has spent the last several years researching the fruit, finding a way to grow it in New Brunswick and creating different locally made products.
On Sunday, as part of Open Farm Day, which took place in all four Atlantic Canada provinces, they opened their farm to share their knowledge with the general public.
“They really want to know where their fruit comes from, where their food comes from, how it’s manufactured, how it’s produced, how they put it into their diet, and we’ve got people coming, maybe their on a cancer journey or they’ve got diabetes or arthritis, then we’ve got a little place inside where we can discuss all that stuff,” said Fowler.
Open Farm Day first started in 2000 as an opportunity for people to experience farms and understand where their food comes from.
This year in New Brunswick, 20 farms are participating including berry farms, orchards and livestock farms.
“We just want people to be able to come out and make that connection and learn more about what’s going on in the agriculture community to create transparency and to see the hard work that all these producers are putting in on a daily bases,” said Dylan LeBlanc, the co-ordinator of the event this year with the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick.
“It allows consumers to make educated decisions on how they’re getting their food and where it comes from and it creates a connection between the farmers and the consumer.”
Big Sky Ventures has been participating in Open Farm Day for several years.
People visiting her farm Sunday had the option to pick their own berries and participate in a few demonstrations and tastings.
“They’re getting a little more knowledge on what to do with sea buckthorn and that it’s actually here, it’s in New Brunswick and we grow very good varieties. We’re very lucky that the varieties that are doing well, we’ve got nine varieties on trial, three do well, and the biggest variety that we have is the most nutritious,” she said.
The Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick says Open Farm Day is an important step towards breaking down barriers and misconceptions about the provinces agricultural industry.
It’s also designed to promote a sustainable and thriving agricultural industry in all of Atlantic Canada.
“I think buying locally right now is more important than ever. Just with how the economy is going and really agriculture is a huge part of New Brunswick economy and our GDP, so it really kind of pushes it forward by buying locally,” said LeBlanc.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It’s the government’s latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
BREAKING Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
DEVELOPING Exploding electronic devices kill 14, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 14 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000. Here are the latest updates.
What to know about the deadly electronic explosions targeting Hezbollah
Just one day after pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded, more electronic devices detonated in Lebanon Wednesday in what appeared to be a second wave of sophisticated, deadly attacks that targeted an extraordinary number of people. Here's what we know so far.
Canada abstains from UN motion calling on Israel to end occupation of Gaza, West Bank
Canada abstained today from a high-profile United Nations vote demanding that Israel end its 'unlawful presence' in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank within a year.
Record-breaking Lotto Max jackpot tickets sold in Ontario, Quebec
Two lucky people in Ontario and Quebec will split Tuesday’s record-breaking $80-million Lotto Max jackpot.
Rogers Communications to buy out Bell's share of MLSE for $4.7 billion
Rogers Communications Inc. is buying out Bell's 37.5 per cent share of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment for $4.7 billion, giving it 75 per cent ownership of the sports conglomerate.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
'Unsightly' under-construction home must be finished or demolished, B.C. court rules
A B.C couple has been ordered to stop living in a motorhome on the property where their under-construction home – which they were first given a permit to build more than six years ago – has become an “eyesore,” according to a recent court decision.