FARM Fresh

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Kamloops & Area 2010

634948

Your Guide to Discover Agriculture, Fresh Food and Agri-Tourism in the Kamloops Region.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

The Daily News, Kamloops

Purity Envirolawn ✔ Requires 1/3 less water than regular lawn seed ✔ Hardy and suited for heavy traffic areas ✔ Slow growing and requires less mowing ✔ Perfect for water restricted areas Great for boulevards or the cabin!

As a blend, these grasses tolerate many environmental stresses including marginal soils, drought, heat and cold.

They stay green longer under drought stress than most other grasses. When seeded as a lawn these grasses require less frequent mowing, less fertilizer and less water and are very shade tolerant. This mix can also be seeded to produce an excellent lower growing ground cover for passive areas requiring AVAILABLE no maintenance.

IN 3.2 KG BAG & 22.7 KG BAG

Mt. Paul Way

471 Okanagan Way, Kamloops

250-372-2233 GARDEN CENTRE Open April to June

STORE HOURS

Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm Sat 8:30am to 4pm

PURITY FEED

Red Bridge John Deere Tractor

Okanagan Way

KXA

www.purityfeed.com

• Turf Products • Fertilizers • Compost • Top Soil • Unique Rock • Specialty Bark Mulch • Wide Variety of Lawn & Pasture Seeds • And much more

635319

Water Meter Friendly!

Chilcotin Rd.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

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Welcome to our third edition his is your guide to a cornucopia of TThompson-Nicola farm products grown throughout the region.

and your family. Keep it close — we are sure you will find it handy throughout the year.

A special feature brought back once more for 2010, is an Internet link to all the producer listings — a feature supported by Tourism Kamloops.

All of the producer listings you see in this guide will be added to its website and linked to an interactive map. The site will be in full operation by late spring. Just go to www.kamloopsfarmfresh.com.

The Farm Fresh Guide is a co-operative effort of the Kamloops Daily News,

Discover fresh picked fruit and vegetables, farm-raised meat and eggs, and value added products including jams and jellies.

The guide also includes farms offering agri-tourism products such as farm tours, bed and breakfast accommodations, horseback riding and even a corn maze.

In using this guide you will be supporting local agriculture and insuring a supply of nutritious local food for you

2010 Area

Fall Fairs Princeton & District Fall Fair

Aug. 27-29 , Princeton Call: Keith Olsen, 250-295-0255 epets1@telus.net

Interior Provincial Exhibition & Stampede Sept. 1-5, Armstrong Call: Bryan Burns 250-546-9406 www.armstrongipe.com

Nicola Valley Fall Fair Sept. 4-5, Merritt Call: Kathy Reimer, 250-378-5925 kreimwe@telus.net

North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo

Sept. 4-6, Barriere Call: Nora Johnson, 250-672-9633 ntfallfair@gmail.com

Ashcroft & District Fall Fair

Sept. 12, Ashcroft Call: Janna Kinvig, ashcroftfallfair@gmail.com

Provincial Winter Fair

Sept. 24-27 Kamloops Call: Cara Haughton, 250-572-6838 info@provincialwinterfair.com

Tourism Kamloops, and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

The Farm Fresh team acknowledges the many small business owners who recognize the value of supplying fresh, local produce and meats to area residents. As well, a special thank you goes out to various restaurant owners who have begun to search out local products for their menus.

Finally, thank you to all the producers and commercial advertisers that have supported this publication, and to you, the consumer for supporting our local producers.

Farm Fresh at a glance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Farm Fresh logos...................................................................................S4 Producer listings.......................................................................S5-S9, S16

Product index......................................................................................S10

Availability chart..................................................................................S11

Producer map 1 (Clinton/Vavenby/Sun Peaks)*...................................S12

Producer map 2 (Cache Creek/Kamloops/Merritt)*.............................S13

Making syrup from birch tree sap.........................................................S14

Farmers markets schedule...................................................................S15

Catering with a conscience..................................................................S17

Bountiful autumn event at Sun Peaks...................................................S18 Farmers market on the mountain a growing concern.............................S19

Agri-tourism — Experience life on a farm..............................................S20 Freshness baked into every loaf...........................................................S21 Agri facts of the Thompson-Okanagan..................................................S22

If you are looking for a specific farm product, use the index on page 10. Farm listings are all in alphabetical order.

For extra copies of Farm Fresh, visit your local Farmers Market or contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands at 250-371-6050. If you are a producer and would like to be included in the 2011 edition, call the ministry to be added to the contact list. *Maps: use the number beside each producer listing to locate that farm on the map. Refer to directions in the ad or on a local road map for the exact address. Some farms may not be listed on the map, as indicated in their ad.

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The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Watch for producers displaying these logos Environmental Farm Plan

Environmental farm planning is a voluntary process that producers can use to identify both environmental strengths and any potential risks on their farms. If needed, an action plan is developed to reduce risks. This national program is administered in B.C. through the B.C. Agriculture Council.

This logo recognizes that the farm has completed its environmental plan.

B.C. Certified Organic The B.C. Certified Organic Program is a voluntary agri-food quality program sanctioned by the B.C. government (www.gov.bc.ca/agf). It is administered through the Certified Organic Association of B.C. (COABC). Farms that meet the standards for production, processing and handling are eligible to use the term B.C. Certified Organic and the symbol checkmark in a box.

Verified Beef Program™

VBP is a national on-farm food safety program for beef producers in Canada. A farm registered with VBP has demonstrated through an audit that their food safety practices conform to program requirements. This program is based on the world recognized food safety standard known as HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control point) and is designed to help producers prevent, monitor and reduce food safety risks on their beef cattle farms.

B.C. AgriTourism Alliance Quality Assurance Program

This program has been developed in consultation with agritourism operators to establish consistent, quality agritourism experiences throughout B.C. Once an operation becomes accredited by BCATA, an excellent insurance program and provincial highway road signage are available. For more information e-mail: coordinator@agritourismbc.org

Success of 100-Mile Diet sparks interest in eating close to home ple that once back home, in their Kitsilano apartment, they pursued the idea of eating only local food.

They decided to try a diet consisting of eating food, for one year, grown within 100 miles of their home.

Finding little in grocery stores, they relied on farmers markets and visits to local farms.

Eleven articles were published in the online newspaper The Tyee over the year, plus an additional four articles

northern B.C. in August 2004.

Their food supplies were nearly exhausted so to feed their dinner guests they scrounged the surrounding land for food. Their dinner of Dolly Varden trout, wild mushrooms, dandelion leaves, apples, sour cherries and rose hips, along with potatoes and garlic from the garden, so impressed the cou-

Black Creek Ranch supplies grass fed beef that has been born and bred in the nutrient

rich grasslands of B.C.'s interior. Our superior product receives no artificial hormones

or feed additives making our product your healthy choice.

³)LHOG WR 3ODWH 6HUYLFH´

afterwards, between August 2006 and May 2007. They launched an independent website, 100milediet.org in 2006.

In 2007, the account of their experiences — The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating — was published by Random House. Smith and MacKinnon have been overwhelmed by the response from readers and local and international media. The concept has prompted many others to try eating Wikipedia well, closer to home.

Being locally owned and operated our product is naturally available throughout the interior and can be delivered directly to you.

Please contact us at: PO Box 1186 Station Main Kamloops, BC V2C 6H3 Phone: 250-314-6804 E-mail: fieldtoplate@yahoo.ca

635202

ancouver authors Alisa Smith and J. V B. MacKinnon’s idea of local eating began while visiting their cabin in

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Producer listings 1

AMARANTH FARM & NURSERY

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Brian Watt 5111 Dunn Lake Rd., Barriere, B.C., V0E 1E0 Phone: 250-672-5841 E-mail: info@91ranch.com www.91ranch.com Telephone/e-mail sales. Local delivery.

Our cattle are born and raised here on the ranch, naturally with no hormones or antibiotics. They graze on open range throughout the summer and come home in the fall. Please call ahead to place your order for some of our natural beef by the side, quarter or custom cut, packaged to suit you. All beef is cut, wrapped and frozen by a licensed/certified processor. We also craft unique barn wood furniture such as mirrors, coffee and end tables, benches, coat racks, picture frames and more.

Bob & Cheryl Hearn 740 Glenacre Road, McLure, BC V0E 2H0 P.O. Box 322, Stn. Main., Kamloops, BC V2C 5K9 Phone: 250-672-9712 Cell: 250-819-9712

Colorado Blue & Green Spruce: potted or burlap/basket, Shade Trees - brilliant colour: potted or burlap/basket, Austrian Pines - burlap/basket. All trees 2 metres+.

Did you know? ool as a cucumber is more than a catchy phrase?

C A cucumber’s pulp temperature may be up to 20 per cent cooler than the outside air. Cucumbers are

about 96 per cent water. Because their skin holds moisture like a jug, these vegetables have been used to quench thirst since ancient times. They originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and were soon favoured for their cool, refreshing taste. For the crispest pickles, process cucumbers within 24 to 48 hours of picking.

ASHCROFT HONEY

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BUSE CREEK RANCH

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Joe & Marg Lomond 1559 Steelhead Rd., Thompson River Estates, P.O. Box 567, Savona, B.C., V0K 2J0 Phone: 250-373-2540 Cell: 250-457-7193 Members of the B.C. Honey Producers, Kamloops Division, the Canadian Honey Council, the American Beekeepers Federation, the Alberta Beekeepers Association, the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Association and the B.C. Bee Breeders Association.

Farm gate sales by appointment or by chance. Products available at: Horsting Farms’ Market, Coyote Corner, Hilltop Gardens in Spences Bridge, Terrace Heights Farm in Savona, Safety Mart and Williams General Store in Ashcroft. Liquid, creamed and flavour creamed honey. Bulk honey sales are also available, as are beekeeping supplies and beeswax.

Spring beehive nuclei available.

Larry & Holly Campbell and Family 9680 Hidden Vale Ranch Rd., Kamloops, B.C., V2C 6W4 Phone/Fax: 250-573-3623 E-mail: hcampbell@campbellco.ca www.bcgrassfedbeef.ca Telephone and internet sales. Our cattle and sheep graze on native grasses in Hidden Vale and Robbins Range. The cattle are finished on grain. We sell sides and mixed quarters of beef and whole lambs, custom cut to your specifications and frozen. Extra lean ground beef, steaks and roasts available. Buy local - know where the food you eat comes from. Hay for sale from our Westwold hay farm.

Creating Connections ...from field to table "Your 100 Mile Diet Food Source"

Heartland Quality Foods

250•374•6693 709 Tagish St. Kamloops, BC

heartlandfoods@telus.net

• MEAT • PRODUCE • CHEESE • BAKED GOODS • GIFT BASKETS • CATERING • FARM TOURS • AND MORE

635201

91 RANCH

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The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Producer listings 5

CARL’S MARKET GARDEN & FRUIT STAND

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Ted & Maureen Brown 3403 McNab Rd., Little Fort, B.C., V0E 2C0 Phone/Fax: 250-677-4308 E-mail: mebrown57@gmail.com Member of the B.C. Freshwater Aquaculture Association.

Kamloops Rainbow Trout is sold frozen, vacuum-packed whole or filets. Smoked retort (foil pouches with no refrigeration necessary) are also available. Live stocking (eggs, fry, fingerling, catchables) are available. Find fresh-frozen and/or smoked packaged Kamloops Rainbow Trout at the Little Fort General Store in Little Fort, the Smorgasbord Deli and Heartland Quality Foods in Kamloops, also at Carl’s Market Garden in McLure and Golden Ears Fruit Stand in Chase. We also make periodic deliveries to Kamloops, so please order by phone.

Brian & Brenda Carl 272 McLure Ferry Road, McLure, B.C., V0E 2H0 Phone: 250-672-5795 Fax: 250-672-5708 E-mail: brian_carl@xplornet.com

Farm Stand 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, mid-June to Oct. 31.

Family-owned and operated for more than 25 years, 40 km north of Kamloops on the scenic Yellowhead Highway at McLure Ferry Road. Easy access via left hand-turn lane. Grab a dozen of our famous corn when in season. Take a ferry ride over the North Thompson River. We carry a full selection of B.C. fruit and our own fresh veggies. B.C. pottery, cookbooks and preserves for sale. See you soon!

Walmart Save money, Live better

100-1055 Hillside Drive, Kamloops, BC 250-374-1591

635195

Check out the Garden Centre for a great selection of bedding plants, trees, shrubs, hanging baskets, soils, fertilizers, garden & yard decor

CELISTA SPRINGS RANCH

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DOMINION CREEK RANCH

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Doug & Marlene Fenton Line 17 Road, Celista, B.C. Store Phone: 250-955-0525 Farm Phone: 250-955-0959 Fax: 250-955-0957 E-mail: sales@mylos.ca New Agritourism opportunities at CSR! Camping, tours, dinners, all part of providing our clients an opporunity to learn more about substainable agriculture while enjoying a short stay in our little paradise.

SPCA certified. BC-VBP Certified Enviornmental Farm Plan Program for farm gate sales, inquire at Myol’s Farm Market in Scotch Creek. (3837 Squilax, Anglemont Hwy.) Celista Springs Ranch is on the North Shore of Shuswap Lake.

A combination of genetics, grass finishing, low-stress handling and dry aging enable us to offer premium quality grassfed beef, pork and lamb. All products are raised without the use of hormones, medicated feeds, and animal by-products as well as processed at a government-inspected facility. Products are available in whole, half, quarters, and custom packs or by the piece.

Norm, Betty, Leroy & Bernadine Peters RR #1, Heffley Creek, B.C., V0E 1Z0, Phone: 250-578-7268 Fax: 250-578-7299 E-mail: peters@mail.ocis.net www.dominioncreekranch.ca

Premium grass or grain fed Angus beef and lamb grazed on native grasslands.

Hormone growth promotant free, antibiotic free. Raised without medicated feeds and animal by-products. Wool and wool products. Meat products available in whole, half, quarters or by the piece.

Extra lean ground beef. Australian cattle dogs available periodically. Located just 10 km from Sun Peaks Resort.

Enviornmental Farm Plan Program, Verified Beef Production Program, Certified on Farm Food Safe Program for Sheep.

Farmers Markets, Sun Peaks and Vancouver area, Farm Gate sales, please call ahead.

well Eat local Eat green

EAT

CAMPBELL LAKE TROUT FARM

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The Daily News, Kamloops

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Producer listings DOUBLE C RANCH & CARIBOO COUNTRY INN

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Monika & Stephan Schlaepfer-Gysi 6451 Birch Bay Rd., P.O. Box 290, Horsefly Lake B.C., V0L 1L0 Phone: 250-620-3434 E-mail: howdy@cariboocountryinn.com www.cariboocountryinn.com

Not on map

B.C. Fishing and Resort Outfitters Association.

Farm gate. Williams Lake Farmers Market.

Our 1,650 acre ranch/resort is 65 km northeast of 150 Mile House on Horsefly Lake. We sell grass-fed beef, meadow raised Cornish giant chicken, and rabbit. All raised without hormones, antibiotics or any other medication. Please call to order. We also sell eggs from happy ranch hens, artisan breads, sweets and some vegetables. Visit us at the Farmers Market in Williams Lake — Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or check-out our campground and cabins. For orders or inquiries please phone or e-mail.

FAMILY FARM NATURAL MEATS LTD.

10 Not on map

Tina and Chris Johnson P.O. Box 61, Forest Grove, B.C., V0K 1M0 Phone: 250-397-2547 Fax: 250-397-2033 E-mail: info@familyfarmnaturalmeats.com www.familyfarmnaturalmeats.com

FISHERMAN CATCH WILD BC SALMON & SALES

634866

South Cariboo Farmers Market. Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. across from Tim Hortons in 100 Mile House. Order online. We are members of the Cariboo-Central Interior Poultry Producers Association. We raise grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken, pork, lamb and free-range turkey. We farm by natural principles: without antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-products. Come and meet us at the farmers market in 100 Mile House every Friday and pick up a few steaks for the barbecue. We also offer a variety of box sales of approximately 35+ pounds. Visit us online to check out the selection and to order. Delivery available.

SALMON TUNA SHRIMP Tanya-Ray Fishing Ltd. #22961 wild.salmon@hotmail.com

Kelsey (250) 320-4449

FISHERMANS CATCH WILD BC SALMON & SALES

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Danny Arundel/Kelsey Kashluba 9290 Yellowhead Hwy, Heffley Creek, BC V0E 1Z0 Phone: 250-320-4449 E-mail: wild.salmon@hotmail.com Enjoy the taste of Wild BC Salmon! Tanya-Ray is a 42’ Commercial Troller owned and operated by Danny Arundel.

The season starts in April on the Westcoast of Vancouver Island before we head North into the Queen Charlottes late June. With close to 50 years of fishing experience and close attention to detail our #1 priority is to provide the very best quality and value to our customers. All fish are caught with a hook and line and brought onto the boast one at a time. The salmon we harvest is cleaned and flash frozen (temperatures of -40 C) aboard ship within 1 hour of catch to lock in Quality and Freshness providing product to be savoured throughout the year. This process ensure the absolute #1 quality of our Salmon. We offer a variety of products: Salmon - whole, fillets, steaks, smoked, candied lox, Tuna - loins, Shrimp Tails.

NEW this year - Salmon Burgers, Sausages and Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Logs.

Farmers Markets - Kamloops Downtown Wednesday/ Saturday, Kamloops North Shore Friday, Sun Peaks Sunday.

Vernon - varied Mondays/Thursday, Phone & Email Orders, Fish Brokers/Buyers.

FOREST TO FORK

Brenda Cadieux 113, 1175 Rose Hill Rd., Kamloops, B.C., V2E 1G9 Phone: 250-372-2063 Fax: 250-372-3206 E-mail: info@foresttofork.com www.foresttofork.ca

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Morels vs Morals, by author Brenda Mansfield Cadieux (The Mushroom Lady) - a true story of perserverance and survival in backwoods British Columbia. $12.95. Available at these locations: Directly from Brenda or online Chapters.Indigo.ca; Amazon.com; Create Space; or by Ebook for $6.95 on Enlightened Ebooks; Coles in the mall, Chapters Aberdeen; Second Glance downtown; The Book Place - North Hills Mall and Saturday Farmers Market.

Dehydrated Wild Mushrooms available at unbelieveable prices by telephone/email or Saturday Farmers Market (in the school yard on the grass) Porcini, Portobello; Chanterelle, Lobster; Agaricus; Morel; Oyster; Shiitake; Pine; Champignons; 14-Blend; Reeshi and other medicinals. Pre-mixed Soup/Gravy; Curry Sauce; Porcini Risotto. Wild Mushroom Powders. Quick, easy recipes available for your cooking pleasure. Those with palates or those who want to venture into tasting the finest food products will enjoy the delicious selection that Forest to Fork has to offer.

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The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Producer listings GOLDEN EARS FARM COOPERATIVE 13 HIWAN RANCH Tristan Cavers Gordon & Barb Howell

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RR2 S 25 C 18, Chase, B.C., V0E 1M0 Farm Phone: 250-679-8421 Fruit Stand Phone: 250-679-7693 E-mail: Golden.Ears.Farm@gmail.com Website: www.goldenearsfarm.org

Highway 97, Monte Creek, B.C., P.O. Box 3305, Kamloops, B.C., V2C 6B9 Phone: 250-374-5771 Fax: 250-374-4579 E-mail: info@hiwanranch.com

Fruit Stand on Highway 1, West of Chase Kamloops Farmers’ Market – Wednesday and Saturday Chase Farmers’ Market – Friday Fruit Stand, Market, All Orders Welcome. We’re a group of framers sharing land and a vision of sustainability through organic farming. Stop by and say hello! We’re at the Kamloops Market Wednesdays and Saturdays, Chase Market Fridays and Sorrento Market Saturdays. We have strawberries, raspberries, corn, pumpkins, squash, peas, beans, pickling cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs and much more. Fall on the Farm: Wagon rides, apple cider, friendly animals, pumpkin patch and pie. Tours by appointment. French and English available.

Fruit Stand opens early summer seven days a week until September. We’re famous for our pies! Farm tours available, please call ahead.

Quality, ranch raised, tasty, grain-finished and growth hormone Red Angus beef. Family pack contains a cross section of cuts – roasts, steaks, stir-fry, minute steaks and lean ground beef. We also have lean ground beef available in 2 lb packages.

Call for pricing. Processed in a government-inspected facility to ensure quality.

Farm Gate Sales.

HISTORIC EARLSCOURT FARMS

The Hoodoo Ranch is located 5 km East of Spences Bridge on Hwy 8. Hoodoo Ranch is a Certified Organic producer of high quality organically grown fruits and vegetables. We offer a wide range of fruits, vegetables, ciders, jams, jellies, chutney, sauces, local area art, traditional farm crafts and much more.

We offer We Pick or U-Pick. Our waterfront campground is located at a bend in the Nicola River where swimming, fishing, sun bathing and relaxing can be enjoyed. The Old Kettle Valley Recreation Trail passes through the campground and it is easy access for cyclists, hikers, photographers, birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Farm Gate Sales and Lytton 2 Rivers Farmers’ Market.

Member COABC, Stopa Farm #133, BC Agri-Tourism Alliance Products.

P.O. Box 50, Lytton, B.C. V0K 1Z0 Toll-free: 1-866-334-3714 Fax: 250-455-2478

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Tender lean beef certified Naturally Grown in the fresh air and healthy environment of the dry interior of BC. Gelbvieh Bull and Angus cows produce top quality young steers. Ranch raised on open range with their mothers in summer, our own alfalfa/grass hay in winter. Processed in a governmentinspected facility to ensure quality. Custom cut to your own specifications and frozen. Also can buy live and raise yourself.

Farm Gate Sales.

HISTORIC HAT CREEK RANCH

P.O. Box 878, Cache Creek, B.C., V0K 1H0 Toll-free: 1-800-782-0922 Phone: 250-457-9722 E-mail: hhcr@telus.net www.hatcreekranch.com

HOODOO RANCH

Beverley Sidnick & Robert Howard 9730 Hwy 8, Spences Bridge, B.C. Phone: 250-458-2441 E-mail: hoodooranch@telus.net Website: www.hoodooranch.ca

15 HORSTING FARMS

Open daily from May through September, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. in July and August) Discover the history of Hat Creek Ranch, founded in 1861 by former Hudson’s Bay Company trader, Donald McLean. His original log stopping house grew to become a large two-storey roadhouse by 1901. The Ranch includes many other interesting features including a Shuswap Native Interpretation Site, a large collection of historic agricultural machinery, a heritage orchard, a blacksmith shop and other ranch buildings. Our Visitor Centre houses the Roadhouse Restaurant that serves tasty home-cooked meals and a fascinating gift shop. Stay overnight at our RV sites, cozy cabins, mines tents or an authentic Native kikuli or tee-pee.

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Dale Verbeek 2540 Cariboo Highway, Cache Creek, B.C., V0K 1H0 Phone: 250-457-6547 Fax: 250-457-6546 E-mail: 457-6546@telus.net B.C. Restaurant & Food Service Association.

Farm Gate. Our country market features a bakery specializing in breads, fruit pies, cinnamon buns, cookies and muffins.

Homemade soups and custom built sandwiches are also on hand. Relax in our gazebo, or picnic in our park. Farm fresh fruits and vegetables are available in season. Our unique gift shop offers a gourmet food section with several varieties of our own jams, pickled vegetables, salsa and local honey. Easy access for large rigs and tour buses, but tours must be booked in advance. We also have a large, brand-new bakery.

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The Daily News, Kamloops

Producer listings MINER’S ROCK

Kim & Deb Ward P.O. Box 67, Monte Creek, B.C., V0E 2M0 Phone: 250-573-2026 E-mail: minersrock@gmail.com

19 NICOLA VALLEY APIARIES

Welcome to our U-Pick garden! Bring the family out and discover our tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, eggplant and lots of other veggies. We also have several acres of corn, which is available already picked from late July into September.

We are on the East Trans Canada Highway on your way to Shuswap Lake, 4 km past the Vernon turnoff and 7.5 km west of Pritchard Station. Meet you in the garden. Open 6 days a week dawn to dusk. Closed Thursday.

Farm Gate Sales, Saturday Farmers’ Market

Alan & Meg Paulson 860 Coldwater Rd., P.O. Box 1995, Merritt, B.C., V1K 1B8 Phone: 250-378-5208 E-mail: info@nicolavalleyhoney.com

Farm gate. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Family owned for more than 25 years. Producers of fine quality gourmet honey from the historic Nicola Valley surrounding Merritt. Its quality, flavour and texture are due to climate, soils and flowers typical to this Southern Interior dry-belt region. We sell liquid and creamed honey, comb honey, honey pots, candles, beeswax and pollen.

PETE MURRAY’S CORN FARM Peter & Raymonde Murray 5973 VLA Rd., Chase, B.C., V0E 1M0 Phone/Fax: 250-679-8886 E-mail: rdunn01@telus.net www.petemurrayscornfarm.com

MITCHELLS MOUNTAIN BEEF Ian & Anja Mitchell P.O. Box 284, Barriere, B.C., V0E 1E0 Phone/Fax: 250-672-9309 E-mail: ian@mitchellcattle.com

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Come and visit the ranch with your family and see all the animals. Select your choice of individual cuts, sides or quarters out of our freezers from well-aged beef direct from the mountain pastures to you. All our beef is hormone and antibiotic free and has never received animal by-products. We have premium grass and grain-fed beef along with the unique mountain pasture beef (under 12 months of age). There is also a good selection of salami, smokies, garlic coil, pepperoni, breakfast sausage, etc. You can also find our premium beef in our local AG Food store in Barriere or enjoy it prepared to perfection in Mantels Restaurant at the Delta Sun Peaks Hotel.

We deliver product regularly to Kamloops and periodically to Vernon and Kelowna. Our family has been committed to raising quality beef for more than 75 years.

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Strawberries are the first crop of the farm season! We have four varieties of berries – available in June for our customers either pre-picked or U-pick. The berries are located at 5973 V.L.A. Chase. When corn season arrives our vegetable stand is located at Shuswap (V.L.A. Road) east of Chase on the Trans Canada Highway. The corn stand is open from August to October seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with sweet corn, potatoes and squash. Our produce is also available at the Chase Farmers’ Market on Friday 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. and the Kamloops Farmers’ Markets on Saturday 8:00 a.m. – noon August to September. October brings pumpkins, ornamental corn and gourds. The pumpkin patch is located at 5973 V.L.A. Road open seven days a week – U-pick or organized wagon rides for schools, day cares and families. Lamb – custom cut, wrapped and frozen as ordered.

“A Tradition of Excellence Since 1913”

Proud to be a part of the Kamloops Agricultural Community 250-573-4747

635253

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The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Producer index

PRODUCT INDEX

Product Apples Apricots Asparagus Bakery Products Beans Bedding Plants Beets Blackberries Blueberries Bread Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Cherries Corn Crab apples Cucumbers Cucumbers (pickling) Currents Flowers Garlic Gourds Grapes Herbs Honey Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Melons Mushrooms Nectarines Onions Parsnips Peaches Pears Peas Peppers Plums

Farm Number 6, 17, 18,24, 27 6, 13, 17, 18, 24,27, 28 13, 18,27 9, 13,18 27 13, 18, 19, 27, 28 28, 6, 18, 27, 28 18 18 9, 13, 18, 27 6, 18, 27, 28 18 6, 18, 19, 27, 28 6, 13, 18, 19, 27,28 6, 18, 28 6, 13, 18 13, 17, 27, 28, 17,18,19,27 6,13,18,19,22,24,27 17,18 6, 13,17 18, 19, 27, 28 6, 13, 17, 19, 28 17 13, 18, 28 13, 17, 18,25, 27, 28 13, 17, 18 7,18 13, 17, 28, 3, 6,1 8, 21, 27 28 13, 27, 28 13, 18, 19, 27, 28 18, 27, 28, 12, 17, 18 6, 17, 18, 27 6, 13,18,19, 27, 28 18, 27 6, 17, 18, 27 6, 17, 18, 27 6, 13, 18, 27, 28 6, 13, 17, 18, 19, 27,28 6, 13, 17, 18, 28

Product Potatoes

Farm Number 6, 13, 17,18,19, 22,27, 28

Preserves Pumpkins Radishes Raspberries Rhubarb Salad Greens Saskatoon Berries Spinach Squash Strawberries Tomatoes

17, 27 6, 13, 17, 18,22,24, 28 13, 18,22,24, 27, 28 13, 18, 13, 18, 27 13, 18, 28 17 13, 17,19, 27, 28 6, 13, 17, 18,19, 27, 28 13, 18,19,22, 28 6, 13, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28

Trees & Shrubs

2 18, 27, 28 6, 13, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28,29

Turnips Zucchini Farm Raised Meat

Farm Number

Beef

1,4,6, 7, 8, 9, 10,14,16, 20,23,25,26, 27,29

Chicken (meat) Chicken (eggs) Lamb Turkey Pork Rainbow Trout Wild Salmon

9, 10 9, 10, 18, 26,29 4, 7, 8, 10,22,29 12 7, 8, 10, 23,29 5 11

Other

Farm Number

Agritourism Bed and Breakfast Brown Box Delivery Certified Organic (registered) Dairy Farm Tours Hay Horse Riding Product Spring Beehive Nuclei Spring Queen Bees (imported) Beehive Equipment Beeswax

9, 13, 15, 17,22,26, 28, 26 28 14,17, 24, 27, 28 23 2, 8, 13,17,23, 28 4, 24, 4, 26, Farm Number 3 3 3 3

Organic options to control western spruce budworm Spring has arrived and this year’s insect challenges will be soon upon us. If you are fortunate enough to have pine trees still standing, Verbenone is still your best defence to protect your remaining pine trees this year from remnant beetle populations.

The western spruce bud worm and Douglas fir tussock moth will continue to cause defoliation throughout many regions in the interior. If you are looking for backyard solutions to control these pests on your spruce or fir trees,

domestically labelled Ambush will be your available treatment option.

Organic options for the control of the western spruce budworm includes the certified organic product Dipel which is available for use.

There are also commercial applicators available for small or larger property owners with higher tree numbers. Please drop into Purity Feed Ltd for additional information and control options specific for your property.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

The Daily News, Kamloops

Availability chart

AVAILABILITY CHART

Vegetables

J

F

M

A

Asparagus Beans Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Corn Cucumbers Garlic Gourds Herbs Kohlrabi Lettuce Onions Peas Peppers Potatoes Pumpkins Radishes Rhubarb Spinach Squash Tomatoes Turnips Zucchini

Field Berries

M

J

J

A

S

O

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Blackberries Blueberries Currants Raspberries Strawberries

Tree & Vine Fruits Apples Apricots Cantaloupes Cherries Honeydews Nectarines Peaches Pears Plums Prunes Watermelons

Nursery/Flowers Bedding plants Cut flowers Christmas trees Fruit trees Nursery plants G = Greenhouse

S11

Clinton

99

97

20 Mile

70 Mile House

S

E

24

Bonaparte Lake

Lac des Roches

Farm map placements are approximate. Please refer to listing and local roadmap for exact addresses.

Green Lake

Watch Lake

W

25

23

5

11

6

2

Heffley Lake

Barriere

McLure

20

1

Dunn Lake

North Thompson River

Little Fort

5

Taweel Lake

Clearwater River

8

Adams River

Adams Lake

Chase

Little Shuswap Lake

Niskonlith Lake

Sun Peaks

Johnson Lake

East Barriere Lake

26

Vavenby

North Barriere Lake

Raft River

The Daily News, Kamloops

Lone Butte

100 Mile House

N

S12 WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

12

99

17

Spences Bridge

Thompson River

Ashcroft

Fraser River

Lytton

14

18

Cache Creek

15

97

Nicola River

97C

8

3

21

5

22

Merritt

97C

Coldwater River

Mamit Lake

29

5

5A

5A

Nicola Lake

Stump Lake

5A

Kamloops

Lac Le Jeune

Cherry Creek

97D

Logan Lake

Savona

5

12

97C

North Thompson River Kamloops Lake

24

28

Douglas Lake

Roche Lake

4

Paul Lake

Heffley Lake

W

Monte Lake

97

16

Pennask Lake

19

S

N

Westwold

27

7

Chase

13

South Thompson River

Pritchard

Niskonlith Lake

22

E

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010 The Daily News, Kamloops S13

S14

The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Tapping birch trees

By Amber Yake Special to The Daily News

he tantalizing birch syrup that is so TMainland popular in Quesnel and the Lower hasn’t been readily available

for

syrup

in the Thompson region, until now.

Kerry and Kim Fennell have recently started bottling the allusive birch syrup on their farm that has an abundance of birch trees. Their cattle farm is located 85 kilometres north of Kamloops.

“We first read about it in a farming magazine,” said Kim. “We wanted to diversify our cattle farm and we have lots of birch trees so we thought we’d try it.”

Birch syrup is often used as a marinade for meats. The primary, naturally occurring sugar in birch syrup is fructose as opposed to maple syrup, which primarily contains sucrose.

Birch syrup is not as sweet as maple syrup.

“The flavour is more of a molasses flavour with a hint of caramel,” Kim says.

“It works well for meat marinades, salad dressings and pecan pie. It’s not really a breakfast syrup because it’s not sweet enough.”

Birch syrup is popular in Quesnel where some of the largest producers in B.C. are located. But there are very few producers in the Thompson region.

“Quesnel is the nearest large producer,” Kim says. “We had gone to a workshop there to learn everything about the trees and the sap production, and then we researched the processing of the sap before we started last year.”

Last year, the Fennells tapped 100 trees and this year they tapped 200 trees. For every 80-120 gallons of sap they collect it makes about one gallon of syrup.

The sap rises in early April and there is only about a two-to-three-week window in which they can collect it, so they have to work fast.

“We start collecting in the morning once things warmed up, around 10 a.m. and spend most of the day tapping trees,” she says.

“Once everything is collected, we pump it into a storage tank and drip the sap into an evaporator and bottle it the next day.”

The Fennells mostly sell the birch syrup out of their house and will also be at the Barriere Arts Festival in June.

Anyone interested in purchasing some birch syrup can reach them by email at kfennell@live. ca.

Above, Kim Fennell pours a pail of birch sap through a funnel into a plastic drum.

Below, Kelly Fennell works at the extractor. For every 80-120 gallons of sap they collect from the birch trees on their ranch, it makes about one gallon of syrup. At top, three tapped trees.

Above, left, the Fennell Mountain label.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

S15

The Daily News, Kamloops

Come out to the farmers markets Ashcroft Farmers Market

First Sat. in May to last Sat. in September Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

4th and Railway

Barriere Farmers Market

Clearwater Farmers Market

May to October Sat. 9 a.m. - Noon.

Across from the Brookfield Mall

Kamloops Regional Farmers Market

200 - 1634 Harvey Avenue Kelowna, B.C. 635415

May to August Thur. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

4307 Yellowhead Hwy. S, Hwy. 5

1-800-387-3232

Mid-April to last Saturday in October Sat. 8 a.m. - Noon, Second and St. Paul Wed. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fifth and Victoria

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, 9 – 5

Nicola Valley Farmers Market

May to October Sat. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Garcia Street & Coutlee Avenue

FARM MARKET featuring

“Locally Grown”

North Shore Farmers Market

April 15 to Oct. 20 Fri. 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.

724 Sydney Avenue, Kamloops

Farm, Garden, Pet Food & Pet Supplies

Sorrento Village Farmers Market

Exclusive Retail Location for Celista Springs Ranch

Mid-May to October Sat. 8 a.m. - Noon.

Trans Canada Highway and Notch Hill Road

Sun Peaks Farmers Market June to September Sun. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sun Peaks Village Square June to October Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. downtown Lytton

634911

Two Rivers Farmers Market 3837 Squilax Anglemont Hwy, Scotch Creek (across from RONA)

phone / fax 250-955-0525

S16

The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Producer listings RAINER CUSTOM CUTTING

23 THE WESTWOLD

Ben Rainer 7493 Darlington Creek Rd., General Delivery, Darfield, B.C., V0E 1R0 Phone: 250-672-9629 Fax: 250-672-9517 E-mail: Rainer_farm @mercuryspeed.com www.rainercustomcutting.com Provincially licensed, Certified Environmental Farm Plan.

Farm Gate: Open most days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., call to confirm.

We invite you to visit our third-generation beef and dairy farm just short, 15-minute drive north, of Barriere. We do custom cutting, smoking, curing and sausage in our recently approved provincially inspected facility. Retail meat sales include our popular hamburger and jerky along with a variety of sausage and other meat products. We also have chickens and turkeys for sale. See you soon!

RIVERBEND ORCHARD

24

Carole Gillis & David Comrie 4985 Westsyde Rd., Kamloops, B.C., V2B 8N4 Phone: 250-579-5982 E-mail: dcomrie@shaw.ca Certified Organic STOPA Farm N. 144 Farm Gate: by appointment only.

Apples, pumpkins and corn, along with hay for cattle, sheep and horses.

SCHILLING FARMS

Karen Schilling 7050; 7051 Hwy. 5, Darfield, B.C., V0E 1R0 Phone: 250-672-9614 Fax: 250-672-9675

25

CARROT COMPANY

27

Alison Linklater P.O. Box 2, Westwold, B.C., V0E 3B0 Phone: 250-375-2324 Fax: 250-375-2238 North Okanagan Organic Assn. member No. 96 Farm Gate Store open from June 1st to Thanksgiving at 5627 Highway 97 Westwold. Locally grown, locally produced and locally made. The mandate of our farm gate store is to provide the opportunity for public support of small business, artisans, crafters and farmers. We carry locally grown fruit and vegetables, bakery goodies, meat products, preserves, pickles and other quality food items. We are vendors at the Kamloops Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning from June to October bringing our own certified organic vegetables to the public.

THISTLE FARM

Dieter Dudy & Deb Kellogg 710 Dairy Rd., Kamloops, B.C., V2B 8N5 Phone: 250-579-9617 Fax: 250-579-9618 E-mail: thistlefarm@telus.net www.thistlefarm.com

28

Member of No. 145 STOPA Member of COABC Farm Gate. Sun Peaks Farmers Market. Kamloops Farmers Market Wed. & Sat. Family operated Thistle Farm has been in business since 1998.

We offer a variety of bedding plants, herbs and organic vegetables. Bulk orders are welcome, but please allow two to three days notice. Farm tours are available from April through October with the pumpkin patch a great favourite. Must phone ahead for bookings. Farm-to-door year round delivery service of fresh organic produce. We offer a variety of sizes and combinations to suit customer needs. See our website for more information.

Farm Fresh Eggs. Our own farm-raised Beef. Seasonal Vegetables. The family farm has been owned and operated by 29 the family since 1931. Farm Gate Sales. Kamloops Farmers’ Keith & Vi-Ann Nowoczin Market 5661 Rodeo Road, Kamloops, BC (Box 134, Stn. Main, Kamloops V2C 5K3) 26 Phone: 250-374-3933 Ed & Sarah Shook E-mail: threebarlivestock@hotmail.com 3340 Lost Creek Rd., We are proud to offer our natural, grass fed lamb and pasture P.O. Box 109, Vavenby, B.C., V0E 3A0 raised heritage breed pork. We can also custom finish beef for Phone/Fax: 250-676-9598 your freezer plus the new hens will be laying by late summer E-mail: edshook@hotmail.com for all your farm fresh eggs, so call and pre-order so you don’t Farm Gate and Clearwater Farmers Market. miss out! All livestock is processed in a government-inspected Guided horseback rides for all levels and ages on our working facility to ensure quality. cattle ranch. Ride for an hour or two, join in a roundup and Farm Gate Sales. even stay overnight. Complete your ranch experience by taking home some fresh, free-range brown eggs and naturally raised grass-finished beef. We will deliver beef to Kamloops.

Three Bar Livestock

THE SHOOK RANCH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

The Daily News, Kamloops

S17

Catering with a conscience

By Amber Yake Special to The Daily News

onovan Cavers practically D grew up at the Kamloops Farmers Market, so it

MURRAY MITCHELL/the daily news

Donovan Cavers in front of his Conscientious Catering mobile kitchen.

local food but the 100-mile diet concept came to fruition after reading the book 100-Mile Diet and meeting the authors when they came to Kamloops.

“That really solidified my decision,” he says.

Conscientious Catering does all kinds of events and Cavers puts a lot of hard work and effort into each one. In his opinion, the ingredients are what take a meal from good to spectacular.

“When I go to a restaurant I always think that no matter how good the cook is, if they have sub-standard ingredients, there’s only so much they can do to make the food delicious,” he says.

“I spend a lot of time finding the right ingredients when planning menus.”

If you are interested in learning more about Conscientious Catering or would like to book an event, you can visit the website at http://caterkamloops.webs.com/.

Kamloops (250)374-1932 Kelowna (250)765-9765

4"-&4t 4&37*$& t 1"354 We carry a full line of John Deere Agricultural, Lawn and Garden, Compact Tractors, Commercial Mowing and Golf & Turf equipment

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shouldn’t come as a surprise that one day he would start a business that utilizes products grown by local farmers.

“My dad was one of the founding members of the farmers market back in the ’70s,” Cavers says. “I grew up knowing all the farmers there.”

Cavers is the chef and owner of Conscientious Catering, a local catering business that uses only ingredients from within a 100-mile radius of Kamloops.

He prefers to create a menu that suits his ingredients rather than find ingredients that suit a menu.

“I always base my menus on the ingredients. It works well and forces me to be creative,” he says.

Some items that you might see at a dinner party catered

by Cavers include crème brulee using cream from Salmon Arm, cheesecake topped with berries from his family’s farm in Chase and meals with a delicious blend of onion, herbs and garlic from Cache Creek.

He also uses grass-fed beef and chicken as well as freerange eggs from local farmers.

“Most people think it would be really hard, but if you actually put a 100-mile circle around Kamloops, it’s quite far,” Cavers says.

Before launching his business in 2007, Cavers spent a winter working in France.

Other experience includes working at Delilah’s in Vancouver’s west end, This Old Steak and Fish House in Kamloops and the Hills Health Spa in 100 Mile House. He graduated from the TRU culinary arts program in 2004.

Cavers always planned on starting a catering business and knew he wanted to use

1-877-765-3337

www.pcequip.ca

S18

The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Bountiful event at Sun Peaks

By Amber Yake Special to The Daily News

ommunity Futures Thompson C Country (CFTC) has been working with the farming community for a

number of years to diversify their operations by encouraging farm gate sales.

The Kamloops Farmers Market vendors enjoy the public support of residents because they provide farm fresh produce, eggs, baked goods and more.

CFTC proudly supports those local farm families who toil the land to raise livestock, poultry, fruits and vegetables for all of us to enjoy.

“Agriculture is one of the key sectors of our economy and there are good opportunities to diversity, which should mean better prices for their products,” said Bill Kershaw, CFTC chairman.

“Right now, the sector is in dire straights and it needs all of the help we can give family farmers.”

CFTC also applauds the City of Kamloops for supporting its food security policy and establishing community gardens in various locations in the community.

The Delta Sun Peaks Resort, led by executive chef David Tombs, has established an extensive network of local purveyors to showcase the diverse agricultural bounty of the region.

The hotel purchases a wide variety of meat products, vegetables, fruits, cheeses and a host of little-known local ingredients such as wild asparagus, honeycomb, birch syrup and a vast array of edible flowers and herbs.

Last year, CFTC partnered with Delta Sun Peaks to assist with the Autumn Bounty experience. CFTC invested to expand Autumn Bounty to include a much larger audience and create better awareness of the agricultural diversity in our region.

Some of the highlights of last year’s event included an Iron Chef competition, a luncheon hosted by local organic farmer Dieter Dudy (Thistle Farm) and winemaker Chris Tolley (Twisted Tree Winery), a farm tour of Dominion Creek Ranch and a Farmers Market featuring local produce, arts and crafts.

The fourth annual Autumn Bounty will be held from Oct. 8 – 10. All of the food is grown in our own backyards by family farmers and prepared by the fine chefs at Delta Sun Peaks Resort. Come out and support local agriculture at the fourth Autumn Bounty.

For more information please visit www.deltasunpeaksresort.com.

Delta Sun Peaks executive chef David Tombs, feeds lambs with Betty Peters, owner of Dominion Creek Ranch, Heffley Creek as part of last year’s Autumn Bounty.

chuck bishop photo

Above, Delta Sun Peaks executive chef David Tombs with Belgium chocolate producer Johan Raes of Vavenby. At left, children take part in the 4-H halter-tying demonstration at Dominion Creek Ranch.

Below, Chef Tombs with the Ian Mitchell family of Mountain Mitchell Beef, Barriere.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Mountain market growing each year

The Daily News, Kamloops

S19

Adam Stein photos

By Amber Yake Special to The Daily News

ive entertainment, a chef doing Lgorgeous cooking demonstrations, and the backdrop of the mountains:

It’s just another day at the Sun Peaks Farmers Market.

The Sun Peaks Farmers Market is entering its fifth summer and it’s continuing to grow and get better every year.

The market will be taking it one step further this summer by offering VIP and loyalty cards to patrons. A VIP membership card will be $10 for the summer and will give customers the opportunity to receive discounts on certain products.

The loyalty card will have 10 spots on it that a vendor will initial or stamp when a customer purchases one of their products. Once all 10 spots are filled, the customer can enter the card into a draw for a large basket at the end of the summer. The basket will contain a variety of products donated by the vendors.

“We’re really excited to begin the market this summer,” said Janice Nankivell, Sun Peaks Farmers Market

manager. “We had great weather and a great turnout last year and we’re looking forward to it being better then ever.”

The Sun Peaks Farmers Market is similar to other farmers markets in the area. It has a variety of vendors who offer everything from fruits and vegetables to meat and poultry.

“We always have a local musician come and play for a couple of hours,” says Jen Barter, the resort experience manager at Sun Peaks. “It improves the ambiance and makes for a really good family atmosphere.”

According to Barter, many patrons will come and watch the musicians for a few hours and just hang out at the

market with their families. The staff at Sun Peaks strives to make the event as family oriented as possible.

Another addition this year is “Chef in the Market. A chef from one of the Sun Peaks restaurants will give cooking demonstrations and advice to visitors on cooking and eating organic foods.

The Sun Peaks Farmers market is popular with resort guests and visitors up from Kamloops. Many Sun Peaks restaurants come to the market to buy products for the week.

The market runs every Sunday from June 27 to Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More information can be found at sunpeaksresort.com/farmersmarket.

S20

The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Agri-tourism —

Experience life on the farm amloops blends energizing recreK ational opportunities with a culture of warm, welcoming, real people,

allowing visitors to let loose and just play.

But the area’s recreational opportunities aren’t limited to only the more well known activities like golfing, hiking and mountain biking. The entire Thompson Nicola Region is becoming more commonly known as a great destination for exploring rich western heritage, culture and agri-tourism.

The strikingly beautiful countryside and diverse agri-tourism opportunities have made the appeal of pitching in with ranch chores and helping to harvest food with local farmers one of the newest trends in tourism, especially for those looking for an experience that’s a little out of the ordinary.

Defined as a getaway or vacation that takes part on a farm, agri-tourism has

long been popular in wine growing countries such as Italy and Spain, where visitors work alongside harvesters to get a real sense of the work that goes into getting the crops from field to table.

Today, more and more visitors and locals alike are enjoying the agri-tourism adventures in the Thompson Nicola region, exploring a variety of western activities and agri-tourism adventures together.

Those looking to interact and help with animals are encouraged to head out to sheep farms during lambing season to not only watch lambs being born, but to assist with the bottle feeding.

Local ranches raise a variety of livestock including pigs, lambs, cows and bison, and visitors to these ranches can usually experience the added bonus of hay rides, historic ranch tours and farm gate sales, where those interested can buy direct for the freshest products available.

Area farms grow an abundance of fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables for sale on site or at the Kamloops’ farmers markets, and apiaries and trout farms provide the chance for visitors to learn how food is produced, processed and then packaged for consumption.

When the tours

It does the work. You get the credit.

Your list of chores is no match for the CT225. It’s ready to tackle anything you can throw at it – strong enough for your biggest jobs, but small enough to work in tight areas.

are done for the day, visitors are encouraged to continue their unique adventure with a ride behind the fully restored 2141 steam locomotive, go on a free walking tour of heritage homes in Kamloops’ downtown core, or enjoy a ginseng massage at Sunmore Ginseng Spa — North America’s only ginseng spa.

Plus, with the Western Heritage Trails Map, driving tours throughout the region instantly come alive with suggestions and information to guide any adventurer to places along highways where markers tell the histories of fascinating characters like Bill Miner, the McLean Gang and ranchers, whose families have contributed, and still do contribute, to the growth of the region.

For more information on combining an Agri-tourism and Western Heritage Trails adventure, visit the Tourism Kamloops website at www.tourism kamloops.com or the Kamloops Visitor Centre.

THE POWER OF SPRING! FREE* Hauling Cart

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

S21

The Daily News, Kamloops

Freshness baked into every loaf

Chase, and it’s more literal than many people realize.

While most bakeries have “bake off” bread, which is previously-made frozen dough that is then baked, Craig’s Bakery & Deli makes all of its bread from scratch every day.

“Craig and our two sons are up every night from around 11:30 p.m. to 10 a.m. baking our products from scratch and making the dough,” says Cydny Einfeld.

The business is owned and operated by the entire Einfeld family — Craig, Cydny and their four children.

It has become an important part of the Chase community since it’s inception in 1989.

“The bakery has always put freshness and health before everything else,” Cydny says.

All the ingredients are bought from other local, B.C. companies.

“We get our baking ingredients from SnowCap Baking ingredients in Armstrong, our coffee from Canterbury Coffee in Vernon and our

meats come from Freybe Meats in Vancouver.”

The bakery also includes a small deli and restaurant.

“We have daily lunch specials, fresh soups, sandwiches, sausages rolls, a large assortments of pastries, and more,” says Cydny.

If you can’t get out to Chase to check out the bakery yourself, you can still purchase its products at several Kamloops retailers including The Old Town Farm Market, Gourmet Greens, Fratelli Foods and Aberdeen Super Foods.

“We like to focus not only on freshness and quality, but also friendly service. We want our customers, both wholesale and in-store customers, to feel comfortable and almost like instant family.

“We can’t emphasize enough how important it is for our employees to greet our customers with a sincere smile,” she says.

Highland Valley Copper One of the largest copper-mining operations in the world we will continue to be an intricate part of the community for years to come.

634910

Supports Sustainable Living

Terry Lake, MLA Kamloops North Thompson 618B TRANQUILLE RD. 250-554-5413

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR RANCHING AND FARMING COMMUNITY

634864

e Bake While You “W Sleep’ is the slogan of Craig’s Bakery & Deli in

Craig’s Bakery & Deli baker/ owner Craig Einfeld delivers his Sunflower Flax, Alpine Grain and other products to the Old Town Farm Market.

KEITH ANDERSON/THE DAILY NEWS

By Amber Yake Special to The Daily News

S22

The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

Thompson-Okanagan Agri Facts ere are some key features H of the ThompsonOkanagan agricultural region. w Mild climate with low annual precipitation. w Production varies from fruit and vineyards to field crops, cattle, hogs and poultry. w Commercial, farm-gate and estate wineries produce award-winning premium wines for markets across North America. w Commercial orchards produce over half of Canada’s apple exports. w Good quality rangeland supports a thriving cattle industry. w Small aquaculture industry provides trout-for-fee fishing and for commercial sale. w Frost-free days: 148-175. w Annual Precipitation (mm): 257-534.

w Population: 491,479 w Number of Farms: 5,700 w Land in ALR: 793,155 ha w Area of Farms: 713,986 ha w Total Farm Capital: $6.5 billion w Jobs: 177,407 weeks paid labour annually w Gross Farm Receipts:

$450 million w Annual Farm Wages: $96.7 million The Thompson-Okanagan region covers 9,723,230 ha.

About 8.2 per cent (793,153 ha) of the region is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). This is 17 per cent of the provincial ALR.

Cattle ranching is important throughout the region, particularly in the Thompson and Nicola Valleys.

Most ranching in this region is dependent on the use of forest Crown range for summer grazing.

Ranching and logging are integrated and compatible uses of this land.

The Southern Interior area is classed as semi-arid, therefore agricultural production is dependent upon irrigation, except in the north east area.

Livestock production is predominant in this area, with a number of feedlot operations.

Other specialty crops, such as ginseng, are also grown as a result of the climatic and geographic characteristics of the region.

BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation

Autumn Bounty October 8—10, 2010 Proudly celebrating local farmers and fresh food.

GARDENGATE is Open Door Group’s innovative horticulture project that aims to promote healthy eating and active living for persons with mental health issues. Through diverse and supportive programs we contribute to the health and wellness of members of our community.

ORGANIC PRODUCE SALES

Every Saturday in May 9:00AM - 11:00AM Starting May 1, 2010

Monday to Friday 11:00AM - 12:30PM July 5 - October 29

Across from Overlander Extended Care 915 SOUTHILL STREET, KAMLOOPS BC For information call Dave or Rob at:

250 554-9453 We gratefully acknowledge funding and support from: 635316

With the support of:

634734

A showcase of fine food and wine, celebrating the finest offerings in the Thompson Valley. Enjoy the always popular Chef’s House Party with sumptuous food, specialty beers and fabulous wine, or join an organic farmer and winemaker for a spectacular luncheon. www.deltasunpeaksresort.com

MAY PLANT SALES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

S23

The Daily News, Kamloops

“Your Water Specialists” DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEMS

BY FRANKLIN

AGRICULTURE IRRIGATION PUMPS • PIPE • FITTINGS

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OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

634997

www.deltairrigation.ca • info@deltairrigation.ca

Celebrating 30 Years in Business 1978 - 2008

Come by and try our LOCALICIOUS fresh salsa, fresh tortilla chips and fresh dips.

PROUD

TO BE PART OF

KAMLOOPS FARMERS MARKET!

1420 Hugh Allan Drive 250-377-7555 Kamloops, BC

635194

THE

www.freshisbest.ca

The Daily News, Kamloops

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010

634808

S24