Inviting city people to farms results in a better understanding of the role of agriculture, according to new research in Australia. The country’s Farm Day has grown from a Victoria-only event in 2006 to a national event with more than 1 000 families registering to take part this year.
It involves city-based families being hosted by farming families to bridge the city/country divide. Day matches families based on factors such as children’s ages, interest in farming and the distance people are willing to travel. This process appears to create strong friendships with 78% of participants saying they’re likely to stay in touch. R esearch has found 90% of city respondents now have a better understanding of the role of farming in their daily lives and 98% are more likely to buy Australian produce. – Alan Harman
