FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Release
Quebec farmers believe bright future for agriculture can be achieved
QUEBEC CITY - August 27, 2007. Today, Quebec Farmers’ Association (QFA) President Gib Drury and Vice-President Chris Judd will appear before the Commission on the future of Quebec agriculture and agri-food (CAAAQ) and announce that Quebec is on the right track for sustainable agriculture and healthy food for its people.
Quebec has a history of family-farm based agriculture that produces some of the finest food in the world. Quebec society has adopted a legal framework that allows its agricultural producers to receive a fair return for their investments and efforts.
Drury adds that “the values that define Quebec’s agriculture make it unique in Canada, if not in the whole world. They are based on a collective, co-operative model with agricultural producers having control. It benefits everyone and we don’t want that to change.”
Since the Charest government created the Commission in June 2006, the QFA has canvassed all English-speaking farmers in the province to seek consensus and prepare its recommendations for a sustainable future.
Three keys to success were identified:
1. Identification of Quebec products (origin and processing)
2. Recognition of the many roles and multiple benefits of agriculture beyond food production
3. Promotion of local consumption and developing niche markets
The QFA urges the Commission to preserve the values that have guided us and to strengthen the agricultural laws and maintain the programs that we have put in place.
About QFA: Founded 50 years ago in 1957, the Quebec Farmers’ Association represents the province’s 2,100 English-speaking agricultural producers. Since 2002, the QFA is a specialised federation affiliated with the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA).
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For information contact:
Ivan Hale, Executive Director
Tel.: (450) 679-0540, Ext. 8536
Fax: (450) 463-5291
E-mail: qfa@upa.qc.ca
Website: www.QuebecFarmers.org