Farm In The City: A Fresh & Local FREE Event In Downtown Windsor
Open Farms: Farm In The City Celebrates Farm Life During The Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and the Essex County Federation of Agriculture are bringing farm life to the city during Open Farms: Farm In The City this coming Saturday May 25th to the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market. Situated at the entrance of the Farmers’ Market at the corner of Pelissier Street and Wyandotte Street East, this free event will give patrons the opportunity to get a glimpse of farm life while heading downtown and supporting local.
“Farm In The City is a one-of-a-kind event bringing farm life close to home, and a perfect tie in with the much celebrated Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market in downtown Windsor” said Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex. “This will be a great opportunity for the entire family to learn about farm life in a fun way, and connecting directly with food producers. We thank the Essex County Federation of Agriculture for their commitment to the W.E. Heart Local program, and helping educate visitors and locals alike of the abundance of farm-fresh options we have in Windsor Essex.”
Details can be found at www.weheartlocal.ca/farminthecity. Farm In The City is supported by Libro Credit Union, ADM Agri-Industries Company and our location sponsor The Hive on Pelissier, with the chance for visitors to get up close and peek into farm life while enjoying 10+ experiences to learn about agriculture, animals and where their food comes from. Scheduled activities include:
- Grain wagon and mini on-site grain elevator demonstration from ADM Agri-Industries Company
- Dairy calf from Bally Bright Farms
- Children’s pedal tractor course
- Antique steam tractor and cider pressing from Essex Steam and Gas Engine Museum and John R. Park Homestead
- Antique and new farm equipment display from Canadian Transportation Museum and Southpointe Equipment
- Kids activity zone including seed planting and farm animal face painting.
- The opportunity to meet the farmers from Cooper’s Hawk Vineyards, The Fruit Wagon and more
Click www.weheartlocal.ca/farminthecity for the full list of scheduled partners and exhibits. Farm In The City is free to attend and will run from 9am through 2pm on Saturday May 25th in conjunction with the Downtown Windsor Farmer’s Market.
Users can also experience more farm life in Windsor Essex by registering for the W.E. Heart Local Digital Pass, a self guided passport that connects users directly with 65+ farm stands, farmers markets, growers, producers, craft beverages and more all brimming with local produce options. You can use the passport as a way to create locally-sourced meals by purchasing at each stop along the way.
“Tourism Windsor Essex continues to celebrate the taste-of-place in Windsor Essex with the W.E. Heart Local Program, designed to celebrate the abundance of farm-fresh options in the region” said Orr. “As the region with the longest growing season in Canada, we are blessed with fresh produce all year long. Using the W.E. Heart Local Digital Pass as a tool to connect you to each road side stand, market, winery, brewery and more will keep your dollars local, but also offer you a unique journey along the backroads to discover new tastes, and incentivizes users to do so at the same time.”
Once users register for the digital pass they can check in at each location to earn points and receive instant rewards, including: W.E. Heart Local t-shirts, hats, a Barrels Bottles & Brews Trail Flight Log Tasting Pass and more. More details and the opportunity to register are at www.weheartlocal.ca/passport.
Additional on-the-farm experiences will be available during an additional Open Farms day on June 15th. Click weheartlocal.ca/openfarms for details and to register for your free digital pass.
QUOTES:
Jennifer Ballinger, Director, ADM Cares
“We at ADM are absolutely thrilled to work with Tourism Windsor Essex to support the WE Heart Local program in delivering unique tourism opportunities that deliver on the promise of authentic and diverse visitor experiences to highlight the wonderful communities of Windsor, Essex and Pelee Island. Much like Tourism Windsor Essex, ADM Cares is committed to working to sustain and strengthen our commitment to communities where our colleagues work, live and operate, and we are excited to live out this mission by hosting events, such as Farm in the City in Windsor, and Open Farms days where our fellow Windsorites can learn and participate in different aspects of our thriving farming community.”
Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager Libro Credit Union
“Libro has a deep connection to agriculture in southwestern Ontario, and we’ve been supporting farms and agri-business in our communities since 1951. Agriculture is in our roots. We believe that supporting local agriculture is key to a thriving local economy. Whether it’s eating at farm-to-table restaurants, buying fresh produce from your local market, or buying directly from farms, supporting your local farmers and producers has a positive impact on our communities.”
