More New Brunswick students are digging into agriculture this year thanks to the launch of the new Agriculture in the Classroom program.

"Our government recognizes the vital importance of connecting Canadian youth with the world of opportunities that exist in today's farming and agri-food industry.   Initiatives like this will help highlight the importance of farming to students, encouraging them to play a leadership role in ensuring an even stronger and more innovative agricultural sector in the long-term."
- Matt DeCourcey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Fredericton

"Farming is an important part of our economy, creating jobs and providing livelihoods for New Brunswick families.  Your government is proud to support the Agriculture in the Classroom program.  By educating children about the bounty of healthy, nutritious foods available close to home, we are helping the next generation of consumers make informed choices about the foods they eat."
- The Honourable Andrew Harvey, New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Mines and Rural Affairs 

"Implementing this program in New Brunswick is a crucial step for our industry to be recognized and better understood through connecting youth, educators and parents to one of the most important economic sectors in our rural communities.  I truly believe that the program will help us achieve that and fill the knowledge gap we are currently experiencing in agriculture."
- Mike Bouma, President, Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick

• Co-operation and support from schools throughout the province is important to the program.  All classrooms are welcome to express interest in participating.

• The Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick is a non-profit organization that works to promote a sustainable and prosperous agriculture industry while being the voice for farmers around the province.

• The Growing Forward 2 program is a five-year (2013-18), $37-million cost-shared policy framework agreement that provides funding to support innovation, competitiveness and market development, adaptability and industry capacity for producers and processors in the province.

• The New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan is the provincial government's plan to grow the economy and create job opportunities.  It outlines how the government will mobilize to ensure there is a co-ordinated, complementary effort to improve New Brunswick's economy and realize maximum benefits. The plan has outlined the importance of enhancing efforts to promote the consumption of locally produced food and beverages.

• New Brunswick's agriculture and food industry is an important driver of the province's economy, contributing over $570 million in farm cash receipts and more than $1 billion in processed agri-food products every year. The sector employs more than 13,000 people in the province.
  

Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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Shawn Berry
Communications,
Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
506-444-2915

Mike Bouma
President, Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick
506-452-8101