Category Archives: Farm Focus
April 1st FAC Meeting – “No Farms No Food”
Food Freedom Day
Coined Food Freedom Day by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), February 14, 2013, is the calendar date when the average Canadian will have earned enough income to pay his or her grocery bill for the entire year.
“Food Freedom Day is a chance to acknowledge the abundant, safe and secure food supply we enjoy in Canada. It can also serve as a time to consider our individual role and impact we have in the food system, whether that be as a consumer, farmer, processor or retailer,” said CFA President Ron Bonnett.
“While Canadian farmers are making continuous efforts to improve productivity, there are several angles to sustainability to consider. The sustainability of our food supply and making our dollar go as far as possible is a concern we all share and a solution we can all be a part of. One way we can have significant impact is in reducing food loss at the production and consumption level,” Bonnett added.
In 2009, total Canadian food waste amounted to $27 billion; this equates to $774.07 in food dollars wasted per person, according to a study done by the George Morris Centre. The proportion of food loss along the Canadian Food Value Chain breaks down as follows (see chart below).
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Without any food waste along the food value chain, the date for Food Freedom Day would have been February 5 this year.
“From the farm to the dinner table, far too much food is being wasted and the consequences are serious. With an ever increasing global population and depleting natural resources, wasting food makes no sense – ethically, economically or environmentally,” Bonnett added. “The good news is that we can do something about it. We can take responsibility as individuals and follow basic tips to save food. To improve industry efficiency along the food chain, government and industry must work together to develop a food strategy for Canada. The industry-driven National Food Stategy® can be a starting point for discussion and includes several key objectives addressing efficiencies in the food system.
“Together we can minimize wasteful practices and make sure our strong agriculture and food heritage is maintained for this generation and generations to come,” Bonnett concluded.
For the website and information source:
http://www.cfa-fca.ca/programs-projects/food-freedom-day
Creston Valley Food Action Coalition
November 5, 2012 – General Meeting
Community Visioning Session – Summary
CVFACs November General Meeting invited members to attend a 4pm and/or 7pm Community Visioning Session. The sessions were facilitated by the College of the Rockies’ Facilitator – Partnerships for Community Development. More than 35 people attended.
The sessions asked participants to envision positive futures for the Creston Valley as a whole, and for young food producers and the CVFAC itself in particular. Visioning exercises looked 10, 5, and 3 years into the future and had participants explore ideas in pairs, small groups, and through individual reflection. To wrap up sessions, everyone gathered to suggest concrete actions that the CVFAC could undertake during the upcoming year.
Key goals included:
- Cooperating with groups and individuals in the Valley to promote local food security (e.g. COTR and the Chamber of Commerce);
- Supporting the development of mentorship/apprenticeship and training opportunities for beginner food producers (including farmers, processors, and market vendors);
- Working towards the establishment of a permanent, year-round Farmers’ Market and/or a storefront/cooperative for sustainable, local products;
- Supporting the development of environmentally sound local food storage and distribution systems;
- Easing farm succession planning and helping prospective farmers gain access to land;
- Protecting agricultural land;
- Playing a leadership role in educating consumers/eaters on the benefits of local, healthy eating; and,
- Helping to cultivate political, economic, and socio-cultural climates hospitable to sustainable food production.
Key recommendations for short-term action included:
- Offering support to veteran Farmers’ Market vendors willing to act as mentors to prospective/beginner vendors;
- Expanding the presence and/or scope of the Farmer’s Market (including participating in the BCAFM voucher program);
- Forming a consumer/eater education working committee;
- Setting up a website that would serve as a hub for local consumer/eater education and for marketing local food-related products and services;
- Expanding the presence and/or scope of Harvest Share activities; and,
- Engaging more children and young people in CVFAC work (including working towards establishing a Youth Advisory Council to the CVFAC Board of Directors).
Compiled by Laura Hannant
Tabletree Juice of Creston, B.C. wins big at the World Juice Awards in Barcelona, Spain.
Tabletree News Release – October 28, 2012
Tabletree Juice of Creston, B.C. wins big at the World Juice Awards in Barcelona, Spain.
On Tuesday October 16, 2012, third generation Creston, B.C. cherry growers Susan and Gary Snow won the award for “Best Pure Juice Product 2012″ for their Tabletree Black Cherry Juice at the 17th annual World Juice Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
The World Juice Conference, organized by Food News, a prestigious juice industry publication, attracts large scale growers, producers and processors, suppliers and transport companies to discuss topics covering all aspects of the world of juice. Attendance peaked this year at 350 with representatives from all the major giants from over 60 countries in the world.
Tabletree would like to take this time to thank Food News for inviting us to such a wonderful event and for giving us the opportunity to share our story and our juice with the world.
This is not the first time a Canadian company has won at the World Juice Conference. Nova Scotia’s own,Van Dyck’s Blueberry Juice won an award there in 2005. Tabletree follows in their foot steps to put not only Tabletree on the world map, but to raise awareness and introduce the world to Creston, British Columbia, Canada, and the Canadian Cherry Industry as well.
Another goal of Tabletree while in Europe was to meet with a Researcher in Dijon France. Tests have been performed on Tabletree juice and its byproducts to asses it’s role in inhibiting and stopping inflammation. It is understood there are very few compounds that can do this, and from the initial results, Tabletree is one of those compounds. More definitive work is needed, but it is the hope of Tabletree to continue working with this company to complete the testing, resulting in the publication of a paper detailing the results of the research.
For more information on Tabletree and the award, please visit their website at www.tabletreejuice.com or call Gary & Susan Snow at (250)428-2470 .
http://www.agra-net.com/portal2/home.jsp?template=pubarticle&artid=1350634596094&pubid=ag005
http://www.agra-net.com/portal2/home.jsp?template=newsarticle&artid=20017998696&pubid=ag005
Tabletree Juice on top of the world
Castanet.net
by Grant Scott – Story: 82463
Oct 27, 2012 / 11:00 am
It’s a long way from Creston to Barcelona, but orchardists Gary and Susan Snow were more than happy to make the trip after learning their company,
Tabletree Juice
won the FoodNews’ World Juice 12 Award for the “Best Pure Juice Product” on October 16
The World Juice Conference attracts over 350 industry insiders from 60 countries.
“It’s where all the big players go to get together and make deals,” says Susan Snow.
Producers like Coke, Pepsi and Tropicana as well as retailers like Walmart all send representatives to the conference.
It was in that atmosphere that Tabletree’s black cherry juice was selected over Nudie Juice, the largest juice producer in Australia, for the award.
“We’re actually the farmers that grow the fruit,” says Snow.
“Five years ago, the writing was kind of on the wall that the fresh market was really taking a dive. So we did a whole lot of research and came up with a proprietary process and machinery to make the juice.” Not long after that they won a BC Innovation Council award which helped boost their new product. While still continuing to market fresh fruit, the juice is quickly becoming their main product.
Tabletree’s World Juice 12 Award says it all.
“We hope with this (World Juice award) under our belt that we can really ramp it up and make a profit. We haven’t been for the last five years with our fresh fruit,” says Snow.
Winning on an international stage has drawn the attention of a multitude of markets and possibilities.
“After we were in Spain, we had to go to Dijon, France to meet with a researcher there. He’s been doing experiments on it for anti-inflammatory properties. We’ve had a lot of testimonials from people where they’re improving with gout, arthritis, and lung conditions… It’s really quite exciting.”
Snow says the initial results are very good.
“There’s very few compounds that actually help with inflammation, and our juice does.”
Tabletree is now looking to expand both domestically and globally. Surprisingly, it’s domestic expansion that is providing the biggest hurdle.
“We’re actually having the hardest time trying to find places in our own back yard. We’re desperately seeking distributors and places to sell our products. It seems that Europe is more interested. This one big Dutch company came up to us and wanted to…take it over and distribute it all around Europe.”
For now at least, the Snow’s declined the offer.
Rental Opportunity for a 6,000 sq ft Greenhouse
HI Everyone,
I just had a very interesting conversation with Caroline Martin of Cherrybrook Farms. Caroline and Gord have decided that they are going to rent out their 6,000 sq foot greenhouse where they have raised their hydroponic lettuce these past few years. However, this greenhouse is useable for many other items than just lettuce. The possibilities are endless. They are trying to reduce their overwhelming workload and have decided this is one thing they will change.
I know that they are open to looking at unique offers in terms of how to do this rental agreement and it is therefore an opportunity for a young farmer that would not happen very often. Please let others know whom you think might want to take on such a rare opportunity. I am including their e-mail address and phone number for those who are interested.
Cheers Len
Contact: Caroline and Gord Martin
Phone: 250-428-3070
Or 250-428-3030
2012 Creston Valley Fall Fair- Farmers’ Market
Come join us for the Fall Fair this September on the 7th and 8th. The Farmers’ Market will be on Saturday and vendors are welcome to stay after market time for the enjoyment of vendors and customers.For more information:
Kimberley’s First Edible Garden Tour | Wildsight
Kimberley’s First Edible Garden Tour | Wildsight .
Mark your calender for August 9th from 5-9pm for Kimberley’s first Edible Garden Tour!
” Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook is excited to announce Kimberley’s first Edible Garden Tour. Not to be confused with the visual treat offered by the Garden Club’s Tour last weekend, this event focuses primarily on the plants you can eat. The diverse collection of properties ranges from large gardens providing much of the year’s fresh produce to artistic spaces incorporating edibles and ornamentals. You’ll see tried, tested and true watering and rain barrel systems, compost bins, and many varieties of vegetables. There are also some great examples of different wildlife fencing options – the starting point for any garden in Kimberley!
No matter where you live, there’s sure to be a garden nearby. From Wycliffe to St Mary’s, Townsite to Meadowbrook – you can choose to visit the gardens that share your microclimate, are biking distance, or the ones that appeal to you most. To preview the gardens, visit www.wildsight.ca/growing-community and access the map with descriptions. ”
Farm Tour with AG Society
A few months ago the Ag Society did a Farm Tour and the CVFAC also put on the lunch for the event. It was a great time, learned lots and for those who missed it, here are some pictures.
We started out at Tabletree Farm, representing Cherry and Fruit Growers and where we had lunch. Then onto the Milk and Dairy representative, E.P Farms. Then Big Rock Simmentals, which is the other side of The Pickle Patch, they were representing Beef growers. Finally we went to Sutcliffe Farms who represented Grain and Field Crop Growers.