The Open Farms initiative has begun, aiming to reconnect rural and urban kiwis through a nationwide farm day on 1 March 2020. It will be used as a way to show citizens where their food comes from, as 60 percent of urban New Zealanders do not visit rural areas and as a result, many feel separated from their food. All food and fibre farmers are encouraged to take part and invite people to see what they get up to on a daily basis. All resources and guidelines for the event are on the Open Farms website. Diminishing the disconnect between rural and urban is important, as people’s ideas of farmers can be warped from the media. Farmers are encouraged to organise activities and their day on the farm however they would like. The scheme draws inspiration from Fonterra Co-operative Group’s Open Gates event. Beef + Lamb New Zealand report that they will be strongly encouraging their farmers to get involved. 

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