NDP Celebrates Local Food at Harvest Fund Raising Dinner

Kootenay East NDP candidate Norma Blissett told the sell-out crowd at the Oct. 12 Local Food Harvest Dinner, “Buying and eating local food is good for our local economy, the environment and for our bodies and souls. We had a regional conference back in the spring and talked about a variety of local initiatives that were happening in the Kootenays.  Part of that was about supporting local agriculture and so when it came to organizing a fund raising dinner we went with the concept of a local harvest supper, where we could support a wonderful local chef and eat healthy, tasty local food, decrease our impact on the environment, support local farmers and raise some money in the process. What more could you ask for?”

Thomas of Allegra Restaurant catered the event, which featured a menu of locally supplied food.  Beef was provided by Kootenay All Natural Beef Company, Wycliffe, Chicken came from Meyers of Creston.  Christian Kimber of Three Crows Farms, Cranbrook, Fort Steele Farms and Truscott Farm of Creston supplied fresh produce.  The event also included a silent auction and jazz music by The Don Davies Quartet.

In a week when two speakers are coming to Cranbrook to talk about the 10% shift concept, this dinner was a practical example of how to support the local economy by supporting local suppliers and small business.  The 10% shift movement asks people to keep at least 10% of their spending to local products and business.