Party at a Feast of Fields

Eat local. Drink local. Buy local.

This is a three-part mantra for many as the drive to support local farmers, producers, and businesses continues to grow and consumers are becoming hyper-aware of where their food comes from.

Okanagan Feast of Fields, celebrating its 10th anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 12, provides an opportunity to get to know your local producers – wineries, cideries, distilleries, and breweries paired with tasty bites from local chefs, featuring local ingredients, of course.

In one spot.

Billed as a “wandering harvest picnic," this year, around 500 guests will meander through the Father Pandosy Mission, a historic heritage site not far from downtown Kelowna.

Established by Father Pandosy and Father Richard, this site is the first permanent non-native settlement in the interior.

Why here? Father Pandosy was a missionary, but also a practical man and a man of the soil.

He introduced First Nations people to farming, encouraged settlers to establish themselves in the fertile areas of the valley, and helped import the first vine cuttings and apple tree seedlings.

This was the beginning of wine-and-fruit production, which has become one of the principal economic resources of the Okanagan.

After 10 years of hosting Feast at farms and vineyards, it seems fitting to descend upon this spot and celebrate the beginnings of agriculture in the Okanagan.

In addition to the wineries coming from across the valley, aspiring and established chefs return this year to show off their dishes.

Culinary Arts students from Okanagan College will serve a Hazeldell Orchards Sunrise Apple galette, but first enjoy the Pig City pasture-raised thyme and sage pork belly.

Chef Chris Whittaker from Quaaout Lodge in Chase is serving a Spotte Moose Farm Summer Vegetable Panzanella.

Chef Maria Jermigan, host of culinary weekends at Summerhill Pyramid Winery, and Chef Daniel Craig from Kelowna’s Oak + Cru, will both be there, along with their colleagues from a variety of valley restaurants.

Feast is a unique afternoon of exploring flavours and creators you may not yet know.

There’s also an important educational component with the B.C. Seed Security Program.

FarmFolk CityFolk, the organization that runs Feast, is home to the BC Seeds program and is a partner in the Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security — a national program to conserve and advance seed biodiversity, keep seed in the public domain and promote ecological seed production.

Take a moment to think about a world without seeds; it’s the plot of an apocalyptic movie.

Funds raised from the three Feast of Field events in the province support FarmFolk CityFolk’s work to cultivate local, sustainable food systems across B.C.

A tasty afternoon supporting important work in agriculture, while chatting with local tastemakers. No wonder this event sells out.

Get your tickets at www.feastoffields.com before they’re gone.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.