You know the old saying, put your money where your mouth is? Flip that around with the We Heart Local movement, and spread the word (not the wallet) about all the local farmers and food retailers you love.
We Heart Local is back for a second year to inspire British Columbians to make local food choices, and provide valuable recognition to the people and businesses involved.
More than 230 suppliers and chefs were nominated by the public in last year’s competition, in categories like Favourite Store to Buy Local, Favourite Meat and Poultry Supplier, and Favourite Local Chef.
Close to 10,500 votes were cast online, with winners ranging from Nature's Pickin's in Abbotsford to Glen Alwin Farm in Courtney to chef Lee Humphries in Summerland.
Edible Vancouver editor Debbra Mikaelsen was Vancouver’s lone winner, taking down top spot for Favourite Local Food Advocate.
“There are so many reasons to support local, and it depends on your own philosophy and where you’re coming from,” says Mikaelsen. “But I think the great thing about this campaign is that it is all about sharing what you discover and what you love with your friends and social network peers. We can make our food system and agricultural industry stronger through these conversations, “ she continues, “connecting farmers, chefs, artisans, retailers, and wineries to each other and to consumers.”
And there are incentives to chime in: Nominating and voting for your local BC favourites automatically enters you in weekly draws to win $100 gift cards to your local farmers’ markets. You will also be entered in the grand prize draw for a three-night resort getaway, along with your choice of a cooking course for two, valued at $2,000.
While it’s fun to send out tweets, and rewarding to see your favourite farms and suppliers win, however, the goal of We Heart Local is ultimately to strengthen and connect the entire agricultural industry.
“Having local farms diversifies our economy,” explains Reg Ens, executive director of the BC Agriculture Council, pointing to a study by the BC Cattlemen’s Association that looked into the impact of a strong ranching industry in rural BC. “What they found is that mining or logging might have higher paying jobs, but they were cyclical, and having the ranching community there stabilized those communities.”
BC also happens to be one of the country’s most unique agricultural zones.
“I don’t think there’s any place in Canada that has the diversity of food that we have in BC,” says Ens. “Or the creativity. Not just in the production, but with the artists that take the raw product and mold it into marvelous meals. The food culture that we have on the West Coast is second to none.”
If you agree, you have until Monday to go to WeHeartLocalAwards.ca to nominate your favourites. Voting then runs Sept. 2-16.
