When you go grocery shopping this weekend, remember this:

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2003

(OTTAWA) - As of this Saturday, the average Canadian has earned enough income to pay his or her grocery bill for the entire year. It's Food Freedom Day!

"Think about this: Canadians will be working for many more months to pay off what they owe in taxes. But as of this weekend they have made enough money to buy all their food for a year," said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). "When you are out this weekend buying your groceries, remember that you are getting some of the highest quality, safest and most affordable food in the world thanks to our Canadian farmers."

According to statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Canadians spends about 9.9 per cent of their overall household expenditures on food and non-alcoholic beverages. By comparison, 11.8 per cent of household expenditures in Germany go to food, 14.2 per cent in France, in New Zealand 16.3 per cent and in Mexico 23.9 per cent.

The CFA is marking Food Freedom Day today by serving an outdoor free lunch on Parliament Hill. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. farmers will serve hearty bowls of chicken stew with bread and milk.

"Join us on the Hill today for a taste of Food Freedom - from Canadian agricultural producers to you." - Bob Friesen

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.

Contact:

Kieran Green, CFA Communications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633, info@cfafca.ca\

Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)

Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)