Okanagan residents are lucky to have an abundance of easily accessible, locally grown food.
While some of us get the privilege of getting to know the men and women who produce that this valley’s fruit and vegetables, not everyone has access.
So the Capital News is going to bring these farmers to you, letting you see who’s growing your food.
Our most recent installment of Meet Your Farmer is Eastwood Organic Orchard and you can see a video feature on Eastwood orchard at kelownacapnews.com.
Lorena and Jim Wood started farming in East Kelowna in 1995 and made the leap to organic practices ten years later.
The decision was prompted by not wanting their young son, and their grandchildren to be near toxic chemicals.
“We couldn’t do it anymore,” said Lorena.
Although the shift was challenging, Lorena said it was worthwhile.
“It’s been a very big learning curve,” said Lorena. “It’s been interesting finding out how it all fits together. We’ve been very happy to put safe, healthy food into the community.”
Lorena is also a big advocate for getting organic certification—something that not all farmers do, despite calling themselves organic.
“It’s very important to be certified,” she said. “That’s the consumer’s guarantee that the food is safe for them and the environment… they’re paying for healthy food and knowing they paid for the process.”
She added that inspections are intense and rigorous.
While she is proud to produce healthy food, what she loves the most about farming is simply being outside, physical and social.
“I love coming to the markets and meeting all the people,” she said.