Any given meal eaten here in the Okanagan requires at least 10 or more farmers to produce it.
A typical pancake breakfast needs a wheat grower for the flour, a chicken farmer for the eggs, a canola farmer for the oil, and a dairy farmer for the milk. And that does not include the orchardist or syrup producer for the toppings or the pig farmer for the bacon.
Across the Okanagan, farmers are growing everything from grapes to wheat and raising everything from cattle to llamas. Several of these farmers are working together to put on the inaugural Breakfast on the Farm event to be held at Davison Orchards Sept. 13.
“We think food tastes better when you know the story behind it,” said Tamra Davison of Davison Orchards. “The agriculture industry is an important part of the economy, but we are often behind the scenes. Everyone knows food comes from farms, but we want to make it personal.”
Some of the farmers working together to put on this event include the B.C. Grape Growers, the North Okanagan Dairy Association, the B.C. Cattlemen and the local 4H.
The event will begin with a pancake breakfast, complete with eggs, sausages, and apple cider syrup. Cost is 5.95/adult and $4.95/child.
“The food will be fantastic, but the real key to this event is the process that leads up to the meal,” said Davison.
All farmers will be available with displays about how their featured food is produced.
The Davison family will also be also be offering two kinds of interactive tours: U-Pick apple tours in the orchard, as well as a one day only complimentary farm business tour, which will offer an inside look at the production, operation, and administration of a farm.
“The U-pick tours will show the side of growing the fruit, and the business tour will show the next chapter of the story”, said Davison. “Whether you talk to the different farmers, join a tour, or just enjoy a meal that was served to you by the person who grew the ingredients, we welcome you to join us for this family-friendly event.”
Breakfast on the Farm will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Sept. 13 with tours happening all day. For more information about this event see www.davisonorchards.ca/events.
