Farm fresh produce prepared by local chefs is on the menu at the first-ever Meet your Farmer, Raise the Roof dinner happening Wednesday, March 6, in the Great Hall at Brooks Secondary School.
The event is hosted by Powell River Farmers’ Agricultural Institute (PRFAI) and the Brooks Secondary School and Vancouver Island University Culinary Arts Program. It gives locals the chance to meet the region’s farmers, who are donating the food, and help raise funds to replace one of the quonset huts located at the farmers’ market exhibition grounds in Paradise Valley, according to PRFAI member Kathy Hodgins.
“[The huts] are in need of repair and it's been determined that repairing them is not cost effective,” she said.
The plan is to construct a new building that can be used as more of a multipurpose meeting place and to host events.
“We feel that the community would benefit from having a central place that can be rented out for functions as well as allow more agricultural activities to take place besides just the fall fair,” added Hodgins. “We’d like a place that’s more useful for the community and possibly have a commercial kitchen in it.”
Powell River Farmers’ Institute was formed in 1915. In 2017 it amalgamated with the Powell River and District Agricultural Institute to become PRFAI.
The new group comprises some 125 members in the region and continues to thrive as farming and sourcing local food becomes increasingly popular.
“The farming community had died in the last 50 years but it’s growing now,” said Hodgins. “People are interested in local food and recognizing the benefits. It's just becoming a more popular thing.”
Local farmer Aaron Mazurek of Terra Nostra Farm will be the guest speaker at the evening event.
“It’ll definitely be good food because the chefs at Brooks are great and the local food is very tasty,” said Hodgins. “It’s a great opportunity to meet the people who grow the food.”
Meet your Farmer, Raise the Roof takes place Wednesday, March 6, at 6 pm. For more information, email [email protected].
