From farmer to chef to plate: connecting B.C.’s food systems
The Voice of Canada News:
Nearly 300 farmers, chefs and food service professionals met to build business relationships around growing and serving the many agricultural and seafood products produced in B.C.
The Every Chef Needs a Farmer, Every Farmer Needs a Chef 2018 event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. It connected B.C. chefs with farmers, ranchers and other producers from around the province to help educate the restaurant industry on the types of products being produced in different regions of B.C. and to establish direct sales routes from the farm to the restauarant.
“The connection between chefs and farmers is incredibly important for the continued success of B.C.’s agriculture sector,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. “When chefs and farmers are able to connect like this, they’re better able to plan both their menus and their crops for the coming season. Chefs are often the greatest cheerleaders for B.C.’s farmers and ranchers, championing the local food system and showcasing B.C.’s amazing products in imaginative and delicious ways.”
The day-long event consisted of three panel sessions with renowned chefs like Lisa Ahier of Sobo and Ned Bell of Ocean Wise, as well as farmers and restaurateurs speaking to the successes they have experienced focusing on local products. In between panels, attendees were able to peruse the exhibitor stations showcasing a wide range of products from throughout B.C., such as hazelnuts, eggs, mushrooms, scallops, haskap berries, garlic, sea salt, beef, vegetables, apples, blueberries, pork, seaweed and vegan meat.
“We all want to eat things that express the landscape of where we come from,” said Paul Hadfield, owner of Spinnakers Brewpub in Victoria. “We’ve been able to do this for 34 years thanks to the relationships we’ve built with the farmers and producers who supply us with the B.C. grown products that we present on the plate. This event was a great opportunity for chefs to meet new producers and explore the range of products grown, raised and harvested right here in B.C.”
The Every Chef Needs a Farmer, Every Farmer Needs a Chef event is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Buy BC program. Buy BC helps farmers, ranchers and producers market their products as locally grown, raised, harvested and produced, making it easy for British Columbians to identify, in an effort to increase demand for B.C. products within the province.
