Feast of Fields 2012

Author Profile: Darcy Nybo

Darcy Nybo is an award winning author, freelance journalist, online editor, book editor, publisher, word nerd, music lover and all around nut bar.

Canada Online News | Gonzo! - Food and Drink

Written by Darcy Nybo

If you've never been, you gotta go. If you've been before, you know you have to get your tickets soon!  

FarmFolk CityFolk has announced the date and location for their Okanagan 2012 Okanagan Feast of Fields event. It's Sunday, August 12, at Claremont Ranch Organics in Winfield. This is the fourth annual multi-course celebration of farming, food and wine in the Okanagan. 

A sold out event in its first three years, Okanagan Feast of Fields is growing in recognition as it helps bring together the exceptional farm producers of the region with the local culinary talent. An estimated 30 teams will present guests with local ingredients, shaped by local chefs and served with local wines, beers or spirits. The event is described by FarmFolk CityFolk's Okanagan Events Coordinator, Jennifer Vincent as a "four-hour, 30-course, gourmet, wandering harvest festival that highlights all that is wonderful about the Okanagan and Similkameen regions."

This year's location in the north Okanagan area of Lake Country is known for its scenic beauty and the numerous lakes that surround it. Claremont Ranch Organics offer a rich farming history with the welcoming shade of the 80-year old pear tree orchard and century old farm house.  In addition to an amazing feast, guests can also enjoy acoustic music, tours of the host farm, a silent auction and access to some of the Okanagan's best chefs, vintners, farmers and food artisans.

Claremont Ranch Organics is owned by Matt and Molly Thurston who recently purchased the property from Bob McCoubrey of McCoubrey Farms. Prior to buying the land, Matt and Molly had leased it for several years, working closely with Bob to produce crops including Certified Organic pears, apples, plums, peaches, vegetables and salad greens for market. Bob keeps close ties to the land as a mentor and friend as the Thurstons continue farming the land. Matt & Molly both have Bachelors of Science in Agriculture and currently work in the industry - Matt with Farm Credit Canada and Molly with Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative. Both are active in the organic community and Molly sits on the Certified Organic Associations of BC Accreditation Board and is currently President of the North Okanagan Organic Association.

FarmFolk CityFolk utlizes proceeds from their Okangan Feast to fund their provincial work with emphasis on the Okanagan Region including organizing and filming seed saving workshops for a video series (in production), their SharedHarvest.ca website and their Meet Your Maker Okanagan networking event for small-scale food producers and buyers.

Special thanks to Choices Markets who have sponsored the Okanagan Feast every year. This year, they've signed on as our Gold Sponsor. Many local businesses are also sponsoring the event ensuring its success including Kelowna Insta Print, Penticton & Wine Country Information Centre, Farm Credit Canada, Canadian Linen and Uniform, and Savour Magazine

Tickets are $85 for adults and $15 return for the Feast Bus from Oliver. They can be purchasedonline or at Choices Market in Kelowna and the Penticton Penticton & Wine Country Visitors Centre. Keep up with all Feast of Fields happenings here. 

Last year was a blast and the food and wine was supurb .... I highly recommend it.  Expect between 500 and 700 people. This year there is a park-and-ride site at Winfield's George Elliot Secondary School and a Free Shuttle Bus will take guests to and from the event site. 

There will be a Feast Bus ($15 return) leaving from Oliver with stops along the way with the last stop in Kelowna. Tickets must be purchased in advance to ensure appropriate transportation arrangements for all guests.

See you at the Feast!

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