Autumn begins on Saturday, September 22, and what better way to mark the change to shorter days and longer nights than a visit to Powell River Fall Fair.
A sampling of the best the community has to offer in the realm of the homegrown, homemade and home-crafted will be on display. Abundant with vegetables, fruits, flowers, animals, baking, canning, music and other delights, the fair provides a perfect opportunity to meet old friends and new while taking in all the creative displays.
It’s an inspiring event, an opportunity to gather and celebrate the bounty the area has to offer and the skill it takes to capture resources and transform them into nourishment, husbandry and art.
The number of residents who wish to support locally grown food grows annually. For those who take the time to seek out the products, they’re not hard to find. For meat eaters, there are more sources of locally grown animals, including chickens, cows, lambs and pigs. Also available are cheeses and butter, pickled products, a full range of vegetables and fruit and more.
Supporting local producers not only keeps money circulating within the community, it helps sustain those who provide the products. As well, consumers know what they are buying and what goes into the products they purchase. For people who want to eat only organic foods, the choice is there. For others concerned about the amount of antibiotics contained in the meat they eat, the information is available first-hand from local producers.
Each year, more questions are raised about the quality of mass-produced food, the effects of genetic engineering and the health of animals used as food. The fair showcases the quality and abundance of food produced on a smaller scale in a way that never fails to impress.
Eating locally contributes not only to the current local economy, however. Supporting and buying from local farmers helps to expand the agricultural sector in the community, which leads to more locally produced food and creates jobs. Not only does local food taste better, it provides the basis of a growing sector of the local economy.
Powell River’s fall fair provides a sense of community to all who attend. Although Powell River’s past is firmly rooted in industry, rural life has always surrounded its centre. The fair shines a spotlight on the best the community has to offer and celebrates the importance of locally grown food and how it leads to a healthier, sustainable way of life.
The fall fair takes place from noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23 at Paradise Valley Exhibition Grounds.
