Food Freedom Day Celebrated in Canada on Valentine’s Day

Feb 14, 2013

What’s so Romantic about Food Freedom Day? Let’s Find Out!

For many Canadians, today is an occasion which lovers express their love for each other by bringing flowers, sending Valentine cards and offering confectionery - exactly what you could expect on Valentine’s Day. But what many Canadians might not be aware of is that today is also Food Freedom Day.

So you may be wondering, what’s so romantic about Food Freedom Day? It’s not about chocolates, hearts and cupids, but rather it’s all about food! It’s the day in the year which the average Canadian would have earned enough money to pay for groceries for the entire year.

"Food Freedom Day is a chance to acknowledge the secure and safe food supply we enjoy in Canada. The agriculture and agri-food industries are important to our economy and the well-being of our nation. We each have a role to play in ensuring its success and sustainability. Buying Canadian and minimizing food waste are a few examples that would go a long way in supporting the Canadian brand, our farmers and all those in the food system across Canada," said Ron Bonnett, President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

Share your love and appreciate for your loved ones and the ones who produce your food! Farms.com would like to encourage you to join the discussion on Twitter! This year the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is encouraging people to share why food and reducing waste is important to you as an individual or your company/organization.

Suggested hash tags: #ffd2013 #hugafarmer #loveafarmer #cdnag #agchat

Related articles:

Bring on the Love: 2013 Food Freedom Day falls on Valentine’s Day

What’s all the buzz about Food Freedom Day?

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.