Albertans across the province are being encouraged to support local growers and artisans as Alberta celebrates Local Food Week, running from Aug. 10 to 16, anchored by the annual Open Farm Days on Aug. 15 and 16.
The weekend event invites the public to “come meet your rural neighbours” across nearly 150 participating farm experiences. Attendees can tour facilities, participate in hands-on activities, enjoy regional culinary offerings, and engage directly with local farmers and ranchers. Home to more than 150 approved farmers markets alongside numerous farm-direct operations, Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food sector continues to supply both domestic and international markets.
“Local Food Week is an opportunity to celebrate the farmers, ranchers and food producers who work hard every day to put safe, high-quality Alberta food on our tables,” said Tara Sawyer, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “From the fields and pastures to our farmers markets, grocery stores and restaurants, Alberta’s producers are at the heart of our communities and our economy. I encourage Albertans to get out, buy local and take the time to meet the people behind the food we enjoy.”
The week’s celebrations coincide with updates on provincial efforts to bolster year-round produce access. Funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), the Growing Greenhouses grant program—first announced in late 2025—is directing $10 million over three years into controlled-environment agriculture, including traditional greenhouses and vertical farms.
As of late July, $7,524,000 in combined federal-provincial grant funding has been awarded to six commercial operations to support facility upgrades and expansions:
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Big Marble Farms
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Hutterian Brethren Church of Holden
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Gull Valley Greenhouses Ltd.
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groHERE Harvest Ltd.
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Trafford Farms Inc.
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Star Produce Ltd.
Industry representatives highlighted the community impact of supporting regional producers. “The joy of a farmers market is supporting your local make-it, bake-it and grow-it neighbors, enjoying their delicious, fresh and beautiful products and socializing with one big community family,” said Sharon Dimmock, market manager at the Leduc Farmers Market.
The funding initiative falls under the broader Sustainable CAP framework, a five-year, $3.5-billion agreement running from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. The framework includes $1 billion in federal programming and $2.5 billion in cost-shared funding (60% federal, 40% provincial/territorial) designed to boost competitiveness and resilience across Canada’s agri-food sector.