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EDMONTON — Alberta is marking Local Food Week with more than $7.5 million in federal-provincial funding awarded to six greenhouse and vertical farming operations as the province encourages residents to support local producers.
Local Food Week runs from Aug. 10 to 16 and coincides with Alberta Open Farm Days, taking place Aug. 15 and 16.
The province says almost 150 experiences are available during Open Farm Days this year, offering guided tours, hands-on activities and opportunities to meet farmers and ranchers.
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Tara Sawyer says the week highlights the role farmers, ranchers and food producers play in Alberta communities and the provincial economy.
“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,” Sawyer said.
The province is also highlighting its Growing Greenhouses program, a three-year, $10-million initiative announced in late 2025 to increase access to locally grown produce throughout the year.
As of the end of July, $7.524 million had been awarded to six controlled-environment agriculture operators.
Funding is going to Big Marble Farms, Hutterian Brethen Church of Holden, Gull Valley Greenhouses Ltd., groHERE Harvest Ltd., Trafford Farms Inc. and Star Produce Ltd.
The grants can be used to construct new greenhouse operations and vertical farms or improve the productivity of existing facilities.
The program is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3.5-billion investment involving the federal, provincial and territorial governments.
The partnership includes $1 billion in federal programs and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programming, with Ottawa providing 60 per cent and provinces and territories contributing 40 per cent.
Alberta says the funding is intended to increase the year-round availability of locally grown food while supporting growth in the controlled-environment agriculture industry.
The province is home to more than 150 approved farmers markets along with farm-direct businesses and a broader agriculture and agri-food sector.
Local Food Week also encourages Albertans to visit farmers markets, U-pick operations, farms and restaurants serving locally produced food.
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