This week, from Sept. 8-16, is the fourth annual Farmers Appreciation Week, which is being celebrated at farmers’ markets across the province.
Every day, farmers in our region work hard to provide us with healthy, nutritious, locally-produced food, and Farmers Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to show our appreciation and support for them.
I hope many of you had the chance to check out the Williams Lake Harvest Fair last weekend, which showcased the products of our local farmers and ranchers.
With food, entertainment, ranching competitions, and much more, this was a great celebration of our local farmers, and it was perfect timing that Farmers’ Appreciation Week kicked off right in the middle of the Harvest Fair.
Appreciating and helping our farmers is important, and our government works to support our farmers through programs and policies like the Farmers’ Market Coupon Nutrition Program, the Buy Local program, a carbon tax exemption on coloured fuels used in farm equipment, and the Growing Forward agreement with the federal government.
The best way to support our local farmers, however, is to buy locally-sourced food.
An easy way to do that is to shop at a farmers’ market, and we have two of them right here in Williams Lake.
The Williams Lake Farmers Market is in Boitanio Park every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Oliver Street Market at the Old Courthouse Square is on Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m.
These markets are a great place not just to get delicious food, but also to meet people and socialize.
So this week, don’t forget to give thanks to our local farmers.
The forecast for the next couple of days is warm and sunny, so it’s a great chance for one last barbecue with delicious B.C. beef before the fall sets in.
Coralee Oakes is the MLA for Cariboo North and is the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
