Monday 25 March 2013

Who We Are


We, the City of Abbotsford believes in creating a sustainable and environmentally sound community. This blog has been created to address these growing needs, especially since there is an abundance of resources in the Fraser Valley. The goal of this blog, headed by the City of Abbotsford, is to be able to reach all residents in this area and teach them about supporting local farms and locally grown produce. “Eating Local, Growing Local” is the tagline for this project, because we believe that Abbotsford has great potential to become a world-renowned example of a community that is able to use its resources positively and effectively.
 We, the City of Abbotsford strives to build and strengthen the community of local food lovers here in the Valley. Through blogs such as this one, the hope is to reach out to Abbotsford residents who have yet to realize the opportunities that Abbotsford has for farm-fresh food. Our aim is to connect the consumers to the producers and provide them with further knowledge to spread the word about eating and growing locally. We hope that visitors to this blog will be encouraged and inspired to join this movement. As well, we strive to create awareness towards this opportunity to “Eat Local, Grow Local” and to create a blog where supporters of this proposal can share their ideas and culinary creations.

Your friendly neighbourhood kitchen





The Abbotsford community kitchen, one of the seventy services Abbotsford community services offer, is truly a great establishment created to provide kitchen facilities to those who need them in order to help them with conserving finances as well as teaching them different healthy, fun recipes to make in the kitchen.  They offer a selection of programs such as “Best for Babies,” which offer healthy recipes for pregnant mother or clients with children of 6 months or under, and Gluten-free classes. The Abbotsford community kitchen also provides much more than just a place to cook or learn how to, they recently launched a new program in 2011 where they cook with clients of the Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association. Some of the patients reported back that the program has helped strengthen their memory, concentration and patience, which has helped them in recovering from the injuries. The Abbotsford Community Kitchen is a great asset to have in our community, providing the basic right to be able to cook food for those who need it and a start-off for people to take good care of their health and their families. 



Learn more: http://withtheworks.com/acscommunitykitchen/

Get Involved!!!



Here are 10 simple and easy steps you can take to bring the "Eating local, Growing local" campaign to your community:


1. Share this blog and information with 5 friends on facebook, twitter, etc. 
2. Look up where there are local farmer’s markets and grocers
3. Try going out to a locally based restaurant once a month
4. Visit a farmer’s market
5.  Think locally when looking at products
6. Go berry picking in the summer
7. Look up new recipes with local ingredients
8. Use 10% of monthly income towards groceries be local ingredients
9. Visit/Volunteer the Abbotsford Community Kitchen
10. THINK LOCAL, EAT LOCAL! 



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Local Spotlight: The Roasted Grape






The Roasted Grape describes itself as "the first of its kind, fusing tea, coffee, and wine with fresh, simple food." I got in touch with co-owner Karie Karpes to ask her a few more questions about the bistro's local focus.


[M]: Why has the Roasted Grape chosen to use local ingredients for some of its menu items?
[KK]: We believe in supporting our neighbours as much as possible. The bistro is based on a community ethic; we want to create a space not only to participate in the local economy, but also to offer some fundraising opportunities for local groups and associations. 
[M]: What are your most popular locally-sourced items/ingredients at the Roasted Grape?
[KK]: We have a great breakfast menu that showcases farm-fresh eggs. Whether you want something light (like our Portobello frittata), hearty (try the ham and egg panini), or sweet (blueberry walnut chai-spiced French toast), the eggs pull each dish together to start your day off fresh!
Beyond breakfast, we have some great sharing platters, like our Fraser Valley Brie plate with local blueberry compote. But for a main meal, nothing beats "The BC" Sandwich: smoked steelhead trout and a citrus cream cheese mousse inside a flaky croissant. No matter the time of day, there are delicious and unique local options.
[M]: Is it difficult to maintain a local focus year-round due to seasonal availability of various ingredients?
[KK]: It definitely takes some planning. Fortunately, the Fraser Valley is invested in hot houses that fill our salad orders with local ingredients. Even better, food items like eggs, cheeses, and meats are available year-round. We also make use of canned jams and compotes that are likewise unrestricted by seasons.
[M]: In what ways are you (personally and as The Roasted Grape) involved in supporting local business and/or agriculture beyond the use of select ingredients?
[KK]: Like I mentioned before, we strive to foster a strong community feel in our business. Part of community involvement goes beyond the business side of things; we love to open the cafe to non-profit and community-based groups. As an independent, locally-owned and -sourced company, we are able to participate meaningfully on both levels: business and charity.
[M]: Do you have a favourite locally-produced food item?
[KK]: I have to be honest; I'm a bit of a wine aficionado. We have a variety of wines from the Fraser Valley, as well as from our neighbours in the beautiful Okanagan. We try to keep our selection fresh and interesting, so we're always on the hunt for new wines to pour. Come in and try them - our "Wino Wednesday" special keeps us pretty busy! 
It's great to find this high-quality establishment participating in the eat-local initiative. As local business owners themselves, supporting local food producers is a great way to doubly invest in the community of Abbotsford.

Having visited The Roasted Grape on several occasions, I've been delighted by the beautiful presentations and inventive combinations of their menu items. Their fresh take on sandwiches and salads is complemented well by their fine selection of coffee and teas. Find them on Facebook here, or follow them via Twitter, but don't forget to visit in person for a drink, snack, or meal!




Tuesday 19 March 2013

Local Spotlight: Howard Wong Farms




 “Farm fresh produce, top quality, at the best price” (Howard Wong Farms)


            Howard Wong Farms is a family-owned and operated farm and market that has been open since 1975. Howard Wong Sr. started farming in 1966 with his wife, Darlene. When he started farming he was living in Richmond, moved to Abbotsford with his family in 1975, and shortly after opened his store – which you can find at 5486 Riverside Road. I got in touch with Howard Wong to ask a few questions about local farming, its affect on the public, and how it has changed since he started in 1966. 

(M): How has farming changed, for better or worse, since you opened in 1975?
            (H): Farming itself hasn’t changed much, but in order to farm, a lot of things have changed. You need to have a lot more money these days. It is difficult to get a line of credit. There are many restrictions on things that once didn’t have any. There are a lot more rules when it comes to farming today.
(M): Has your business been affected by big corporations selling cheaper produce?
            (H): Business hasn’t been affected badly. Since we’ve been open, we’ve always had an amazing support from local customers and we still do. However, if we were a new farm market, there is no way we would be able to market and survive in today’s world. Having been open so long, we don’t have the problems that people opening stores and farms have today. We have amazing customers who support us always, and we try our best to have the cheapest prices on all produce to serve our community well.
(M): Do you think local farming is important? If so, why?
            (H): Yes, local farming is very important because it creates jobs. This includes equipment repairs and labour positions. Local farming keeps the local economy in good health and keeps all proceeds in the local community.
 (M): What impact would it have on the public if farming became extinct?
            (H): The impact it would have on the public would be huge. There would be fewer dealers and less service for farmers. It would put many people out of jobs. It is cheaper to grow things elsewhere, across the border, so the chance of farming becoming an extinct thing is not impossible.
(M): How hard would it be to start farming in today’s world?
            (H): It would be nearly impossible to start farming today because of the cost to open and run a fully functional farm. There are also many more restrictions on things in today’s world that we didn’t have to worry about back in 1966. There are agricultural restrictions on our land, meaning we can’t use our land for anything other than farming. This is a good and bad thing, because it protects us from people building stores and offices, but what are we supposed to do with our land when we are done farming? There are restrictions on chemicals that are unsafe to use, but what chemicals are safe? Farming is old-fashioned, but the world is advancing.
(M): What do you think about the price difference in locally grown and store bought produce?
            (H): It has been hard to stay competitive with the big stores. We have loyal customers that we’ve had since we’ve been open, but the cost to farm is rising and the probability of having farmers in the future is dwindling. Local foods can’t compete with prices across the border because labour is cheaper. Because there is no local food available during the Winter/Spring months, importers raise the cost of food during those seasons because they know there is no local food so we have to import most of our  produce.
(M): What is the hardest thing about farming today?
            (H): Money – it is hard to farm in today’s world because everything is so expensive. You have to pay more for fertilizers, chemicals, equipment, workers. Everything has increased in price since I started farming. Take for example a car back in 1966. I could buy a car then for $ 3500, today the average car costs $30,000. The problem with this is that everything is increasing in price, but produce is expected to stay cheap. Farmer’s and farming are at the bottom of the ladder, but they should be at the top. Because of this, it is hard to survive when you are expected to have cheaper food in a world that is increasing in price. 

            What I gathered from my interview with Howard was his concern about the future of farmer’s and farm-life. The probability of being able to sustain and live a fulfilling life as a farmer is a daunting task, and one that will soon be impossible in today's world. Howard is passionate about farming, and worked hard his entire life to get where he is to be a successful farm and market owner, but he believes if he had started any later than he did, it would not have been as possible to succeed in business. Because he has been in business so long, he is able to sell produce at a cheaper rate than many places – so I highly recommend checking out and supporting Howard Wong Farms!

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Supporting local farmers benefits you, too!


If you're not having a 'GRAPE' day, 'LETTUCE' show you how with eight points on how local farming benefits you... 

1. Buying local contributes to the LOCAL ECONOMY. It keeps the revenue produced in the local community, keeps local farmers in business, and stops the negative affects of imported food on global warming and the environment.   

2. Locally grown foods have many more NUTRIENTS than store-bought, travelling produce. This makes for a healthier YOU and FAMILY!


3. Buying local creates a PERSONAL CONNECTION with the people around you. You get to know your community, and your community gets to know you!

4. Supporting local farms and local produce contributes to REDUCED TAXES! The government does not have to spend money on the services and shipping of local foods, keeping our taxes in check!

5. Local food = CLEAN ENVIRONMENT!

6. Local food PRESERVES OPEN SPACE! Without support for local farmers, farmland would be sold to build retail stores, office towers, and so on; meaning, there would no longer be open fields of grass or small-town, farming communities.

7. Without support for local farmers, LOCAL FOOD WOULD BE EXTINCT!

8. By supporting local farms today, you are ensuring there will be local farms tomorrow! This only guarantees that your children, and your children's children, will live to be a part of, and contribute to, local farming and local food!