Passion and commitment could be felt among the attendees at the first annual Meet Your Maker Okanagan Conference that was held in West Kelowna on April 16th. Over 100 growers, producers, chefs and buyers from Osoyoos to Salmon Arm all converged to learn and share ideas on how to engage home-grown and sustainable support for local agriculture.
One of the notions that were discussed was the idea that we should all think of food as part of our culture rather than just a commodity. In the Okanagan we are so fortunate to live in an area where food is part of our culture and everyday lives, it can be easy to forget that not everyone is able to enjoy such a lifestyle where one can see ripe cherries dangling from trees while on their way to work.
In West Kelowna we are surrounded by gentle rolling hills of orchards, vineyards and fields where no matter what the season is workers are out tending to the trees and vines, nurturing them so we may all have delicious fruit when it is time for harvest.
Thank you FarmFolk CityFolk for raising awareness about our local food systems. This year when we are at our BBQ parties, let’s all support our local growers and producers and bring some local products to the BBQ party. Whether it is cherries from the local fruit stand, fresh greens found at the Westbank Outdoor Market, wine from the Westside Wine Trail, carrots picked from your garden or nuts harvested at the Gellatly Nut Farm, it is sure to be a hit and a great conversation piece!
Links:
Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park – Virtual Tour
