Canola growers gear up for Food Day Canada

The Manitoba Canola Growers Association is teaming up with Food Day Canada to promote the country’s homegrown food.

Consumers are encouraged to cook all-Canadian menus leading up to Food Day Canada on Aug. 2. The national event was created by chef and cookbook author Anita Stewart. Through social media, @CanolaGrowers and @FoodDayCanada are asking people to post photos of their #OCanadaFood.

On July 29, Food Day Canada and the growers association, under its consumer-facing banner, “Canola Eat Well,” are hosting a Twitter party with chefs, canola farmers and food lovers from across the country.

The idea is to showcase Canadian foods, share recipes and exchange ideas about using local products. Those who participate will be entered to win prizes, including Stewart’s cookbook, barbecue gear, grocery store gift cards and Canola Eat Well swag.

“ a Canadian product and we’re really just happy to encourage people to buy and use other local products,” said Ellen Pruden, education and promotion manager at the Manitoba Canola Growers Association. “We have some great recipes to share, but otherwise we want to share and learn from the people participating in the Twitter party.”

One canola farmer, Simon Ellis, is hosting a “tweet-up” on Food Day Canada, which involves a crop tour and barbecue for 25 people. He’ll also be participating in the Twitter party.

“It’s a really neat thing for the canola growers to participate in,” said Pruden. “People want to make connections to their farmers and they have questions. If you live in Newfoundland, you’re not going to have a connection to a canola farmer, but now with social media, we can help bridge those gaps.”

This article first appeared in Marketing Magazine