Dear Market Managers and Board Members

(Insert your market logo)

PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE

Your Market Name or Town/City Farmers' Appreciation Week 2013

Your Market Society

For Immediate Release 4th Annual BC Farmers Appreciation Week

Your City/Town , BC date of press release – A celebration of food and farming will be in the air this September 8th – 15th for BC Farmers Appreciation Week (FAW). British Columbians, hungry for home grown BC produce can celebrate their local farmers at the fourth annual BC Farmers Appreciation Week at the Your Market's Name, date of the event, from time of event, located at your market location. Select farmers' markets all around the province will be celebrating the event.

The BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM) is excited to launch the fourth BC Farmers Appreciation week, including the first ever Ode to Farmers Poetry Contest. Description of the activities you have planned at your market.

Insert your quote here about why Farmers Appreciation Week is worth celebrating from Board President, Member or Market Manager.

Farmers Appreciation Week runs September 8th – 15th, 2013 and will be celebrated at select farmers’ markets across BC. This week is an important time to reflect on the contribution that farming in BC has on all of us and on how we can support those who bring us healthy and bountiful food. “Fresh food at farmers’ markets is picked at the peak of ripeness. Buying locally grown or raised fresh food is the best way to show appreciation for BC farmers as buying local helps make farming viable” says Elizabeth Quinn, Executive Director of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets. To find a farmers’ market, visit www.bcfarmersmarket.org.

According to 2011 Canadian Census of Agriculture data, for the first time, operators in the 55 and over age group represented the largest share of total farm operators. They accounted for 48.3% of farmers in in 2011 compared with 32.1% in 1991. Presently BC imports about 50 % of our food and despite growing demand for local products 70 % of imported fruits and vegetables comes from the United States with 50 % of imported fruits coming from California. We need to support young people in agriculture to ensure that we continue to produce enough food in BC, lessen our reliance on imported produce, and have enough farmers at farmers’ markets.

The BC Association of Farmers’ Markets is a not-for-profit association, representing over 100 farmers markets including 1000 farmers. The Association is committed to developing and strengthening the capacity of BC farmers' markets in communities throughout BC.

Description of your Farmers' Market Society

Visit http://www.bcfarmersmarket.org/fresh-market/farmers-appreciation-week-2013 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter with #BCFarmersWeek for more information about FAW and farming in BC.

Contact: Your contact name – Position/ Title Phone Number