Interns visit Island farms
Students from France get a first-hand look at how to farm in P.E.I.
Twelve interns from a college in France got a taste of what it’s like to work on a P.E.I. farm.
From July 7-9, the interns from four Breton colleges specializing in agriculture were dispersed to different farms across the province.
Jacinthe Lemire, director of La Coopérative d’intégration francohone de I’l,-P.E (CIF), said the internships are the first step of the AgriInterCulture program.
“Our ultimate goal is still to permanently recruit farmworkers or owners, but internships are an excellent way to build a network here and in Europe and to prepare us for the program’s future,’’ Lemire said.
The CIF also hosted Sonia Andre, a teacher at the French college Lycée des Vergers in Brittany. She was here to visit five of her students.
“Our college has been sending interns to Canada for over 10 years now but this is our first year in Prince Edward Island,’’ Andre said, noting that the Island’s agriculture is quite different from that in Brittany.
“Our college will be even better prepared for the students coming to the Island next year.’’
Andre said the internships gives her students a chance to learn agriculture from a different angle.
“It also stimulates their spirit of openness by spending time in a different culture and learning to juggle two languages.’’
Farmers interested in hosting interns, hiring workers or who are looking for someone to take over their farm can contact Noella Richard at 902-854-3439, extension 222.