Brandon to be part of new agritourism corridor

Destination Canada recently announced the launch of Field to Fork, a Saskatchewan-Manitoba agritourism project, which will include the city of Brandon and surrounding area.

Field to Fork is part of the Destination Canada Tourism Corridor Strategy Rrogram, which aims to contribute to a more resilient tourism industry via accelerated destination development of multiple corridors across Canada.

The corridor program will invigorate Saskatchewan and Manitoba’s tourism landscape, enticing visitors to discover the area’s diverse regions and contributing to a more dynamic and competitive tourism industry, states a Destination Canada press release.

As one of the largest and most productive agriculture regions in the world, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are primed to become global agritourism leaders. In Manitoba alone, the agriculture and agri-food sector directly contributed 7.2 per cent of provincial gross domestic product (GDP) and 5.1 per cent of provincial jobs or 37,015 direct jobs in 2023, according to Manitoba.ca.

As the first-ever corridor that includes a culinary focus, Field to Fork will be developed with support from the Culinary Tourism Alliance with gateway cities including: Winnipeg, Brandon, Saskatoon and Regina. Visitors can gain a greater understanding and awareness of where our food comes from in Canada through farm-to-table culinary experiences, educational workshops, Indigenous agritourism and festivals.

Agritourism also provides an opportunity for those attending business-related meetings or conventions to learn about industrial processes, their impact on society and the environment, and their role in shaping the economy.

“Whether it’s annual events such as Manitoba Ag Days, which draw significant attendance numbers from outside the province, or culinary expertise with several local establishments showcasing local ingredients which are grown right in our own backyard, our city will greatly benefit from this corridor,” said Lanny Stewart, director of marketing and communications for Brandon Tourism. “This Field to Fork concept will generate a new, sustainable level of tourism that, in my opinion, could rival any agritourism sector around the world.”