The Board of Directors of FARMED (North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association) is thrilled to announce that FARMED was the proud recipient of the Tourism Excellence Award at the Quesnel Business Awards on January 31, 2009. This award acknowledges the efforts made by an individual, business or organization that promotes Quesnel and area as a tourism destination and to facilitate the enjoyment of visitors to the area. This is the first time that this award has been presented to an agriculturally-based group.

FARMED was formed in 2006 and is a grass roots, local, industry-based organization which focuses on agri-tourism, agriculture promotion and marketing, farm gates sales and networking. It was initially established to create the North Cariboo Farm Tour brochure, which was produced in September, 2007. This brochure resembled the Farm Circle Tour brochures produced in the Lower Fraser Valley and was racked in Visitor Information Centres throughout the province. The organization accessed funds through Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC for this project which also included the creation of a website (www.farmed.ca), a static display and hosting a one day agritourism tour of the North Cariboo. Since launching the brochure, the organization has also hosted a one day Canadian Farm Business Management Council Marketing Caravan workshop, the 2-day BC Farm Women's Network annual conference, and offered agricultural workshops at the Quesnel Fall Fair.

For 2009, the organization is leading the development of a Farm Fresh Product Guide for the North Cariboo. FARMED believes it to be an exciting time for agriculture and although there are challenges, there are many opportunities. The organization believes that "culture" needs to be added back to "agriculture" and agricultural producers can be directly involved with this necessary reconnection. With demographics of Canadian society changing (rural vs. urban), there is a good opportunity for rural people, including agriculture producers to market their lifestyle to the urbanites. This includes agritourism, value added processing, farm gate sales, farmer markets and being in an organization with others who feel the same. As farmers we need to value our lifestyle and we need to promote it. For local, smaller producers this is part of the answer to achieving success.

For additional information on FARMED, please contact Heloise Dixon-Warren, FARMED President at 250.249.5329 or info@farmed.ca or check out www.farmed.ca.