Thanksgiving has past and thank goodness for B.C.'s farmers or that meal would have been rather meager. If you are one of the many consumers who would like to support local farmers by spending your hard earned food budget in the local community, there are plenty of options for you.
Let's start with the poultry. If you are looking for a simple solution, head down to the Farmers' Market bright and early this Saturday. It will be a busy day at the market, so don't leave it until the last minute. You'll find chicken from Vanderhoof and Dawson Creek available there. If turkey is your game, we have three great independent butcher shops in town that carry pasture-raised and local meats; Homesteaders, Roger's and Chilako. If you'd like the true local experience and a pastured raised product, Garrendenny Farms was advertising Thanksgiving turkeys for $3/lb through their Facebook page.
When it comes to the veggies, don't let the frost fool you. There are still dozens of different veggies available at the market. If convenience is the name of your game, Save-on Foods and Shoppers Wholesale carry local carrots and cabbages from Prince George growers like Northern Farm Products and Cariboo Farms. Save-On even offers certified organic produce from McBride's very own Twin Meadows Organics.
Even items like eggs, milk, butter and cranberries are important crops for BC's farmers and a readily available at any grocery outlet. As always, you can search for anything from turkey, to flour, to honey in the online find-a-farm directory at the locally operated website www.beyondthemarket.ca.
Thanksgiving is a fabulous time to celebrate the bounty of the local harvest that we can enjoy all year round. I hope you will all join me in thanking our local farms for another season of hard work and good food.
Jillian Merrick
Prince George
