Straits Times 31 Jul 09;
IN A bid to get more Singaporeans and tourists to 'go local', 14 local farms are offering fun activities and prizes for visitors next month.
About 15,000 passports, or Farmpasses, will be distributed - at the farms, schools and tourist visitor centres - throughout August.
Every weekend, all the farms will be holding activities ranging from pottery- making and charity flea markets to sampling of frog's legs and discounts on farm fresh eggs.
The farms in Kranji range from fisheries and vegetable farms to goat and crocodile farms.
Armed with a Farmpass, visitors stop by at each farm to collect a stamp. Once seven stamps are collected, they can participate in a lucky dip to claim a prize. Collect another seven stamps to receive another prize.
Lucky dip prizes include Pandan plants, soft toys, $50 food hampers and a night's stay at D-Kranji Resort, a local farmstay.
More than $60,000 in prizes are up for grabs for those who visit the participating farms.
This is part of The Kranji Countryside Association's efforts to steer more people to Singapore's cluster of farms, including Jurong Frog Farm, vegetable farm Kok Fah Technology Farm and Qian Hu Fish Farm.
Food production in Singapore is currently less than 5 per cent of total demand, but the association aims to increase this.
'The objective is to create awareness,' said Mr Kenny Eng, 35, owner of Gardenasia, a nursery farm in Kranji. 'Our countryside can be a destination for tourists and Singaporeans.
'Many don't even know there are farms here,' he added.
A free shuttle service - between the farms and Yew Tee MRT station - will also be available on weekends next month.
The event, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, was launched yesterday evening with the tossing of a garden salad made entirely of locally grown ingredients.
North West District Mayor Teo Ho Pin was guest of honour at the event.
For more information, visit www.kranjicountryside.com
JESSICA LIM
