Okanagan food suppliers make the pitch for 'buy local'

Growing local food market

The Micro Food Expo took place in Kelowna Tuesday, connecting local food producers with local buyers.

Close to 60 food producers took part in the event, ready to build relationships with restaurants, retailers and consumers.

"It’s been high quality engagement. Specifically for me as a food producer, these are exactly the types of clients that I’m interested in connecting with, so we’ve had Okanagan College, UBCO, a bunch of different wineries and private chefs,” said event organizer Martin Rivard.

The pandemic and now inflation has put the squeeze on many local producers, making for a challenging past few years.

"People are cutting back more and more and food has gone up," said Myrna Selzler of Myrna's Foods.

"Transportation costs have gone up dramatically, and that’s really impacted us as vendors and suppliers… That’s a big component of our expenses, is getting food to market. So if people can buy local, we can deliver it… So, save on transportation, save on distribution fees, and support local people.”

While shopping local may cost a little more money, local producers agree there’s more to shopping local than just the price point.

“I think the stronger the eco-system that we can foster as a community, the better off we are. Like, yes, when it comes to a price perspective, working with small local producers will likely be more expensive, but there’s an extra value where you can know the person," said Rivard.

“You know where your product comes from, you know how it’s made, and you know it’s made with love," added Roch Fortin of Summerland-based Maple Roch.

It is hoped the Micro Food Expo held on Tuesday will become an annual event moving forward.

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Join us for the next Okanagan Business Incubator Intake

flower picker

Next Cohort March 27 - June 2, 2023

  • Assess your opportunity
  • Research your market
  • Develop a detailed business plan
  • Secure funding
  • Launch

Contact Ali Brent to book in for a 1-on-1 assessment workshop.
Ph. 250-868-2132 ext. 224
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
www.cfdcco.com

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OKGN Angel Summit Returning for 2023

Square ApplicationsOpenAnnouncement 1Ready to elevate your pitch? The 2023 OKGN Angel Summit could be just the moment you’ve been training for.  

Participating companies will have opportunities to network with active investors and learn alongside fellow entrepreneurs as they pitch their way towards the March 2023 Finale with a chance at $250K investment. 

Cost to participate is $249 if purchased on or before December 5, or if you are an Accelerate Okanagan member. $349 if purchased after December 5. Final deadline for applications is December 16.

If you’re an innovative company in Western Canada looking for investors, we want to hear from you.

Venture to the Summit >> https://okgnangelsummit.com/pitch/

#okgntech #angelinvesting

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PacifiCan launches new support in the Southern Interior of B.C.

PacifiCan 55 EN

Amazing things are happening in B.C. Despite some challenging times, communities across the province are coming together again and businesses are building for the future. PacifiCan is here to help.

PacifiCan is the new federal economic development agency dedicated to British Columbians. We work with partners across B.C. who are building innovative businesses, creating quality jobs, and supporting inclusive growth in communities across our province.

British Columbians now have a network of PacifiCan staff living and providing service in eight communities across B.C., including in Kelowna and Cranbrook. Our expanded footprint means that PacifiCan will be more accessible to British Columbians. It will also support high-impact local investments and quality advice, to advance the region’s diverse economic interests.

Help us spread the word about PacifiCan’s expanded presence across the Southern Interior of B.C. In this package you’ll find:
• Links to our social channels
• Social media posts about PacifiCan office openings
• Link to our news release with more details on what this means for British Columbians
• Link to an interactive map of PacifiCan’s new locations

https://www.canada.ca/en/pacific-economic-development.html

 

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Next Okanagan Business Incubator Intake

flower picker

Next Cohort July 25—August 31, 2022

  • ¨ Assess your opportunity
  • ¨ Research your market
  • ¨ Develop a detailed business plan
  • ¨ Secure funding
  • ¨ Launch

Next Assessment Workshop June 14 and July 7.

Contact Ali Brent Ph. 250-868-2132 ext. 224

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

www.cfdcco.com

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Thrive Impact Funds Expands to Interior

Thrive Impact Fund expands to invest in social enterprise throughout BC and the BC Interior


Social enterprises across BC and the BC Interior now have a fund that specifically supports their needs for patient, impact aligned investment capital. Thrive Impact Fund is a community-based loan fund investing in social and environmental organizations, projects and entrepreneurs that face barriers to accessing financing. Since launching in September 2021, TIF has made investments in non-profits and social enterprises in Victoria, Salt Spring Island, Comox Valley, and the Lower Mainland. Through a new partnership with Purppl, the fund expands across BC and the BC Interior.

“Organizations addressing our most pressing challenges have difficulty finding capital to develop and deepen their impact. TIF helps to close a capital gap for non-profits, social enterprise, and social impact businesses. Purppl is humbled to work alongside Scale Collaborative to expand TIF and invest throughout BC and the BC Interior,” said Andrew Greer, Managing Director at Purppl. “We aim to be strong allies in building a sustainable, regenerative, and just economy and contribute to a future defined by collective wellbeing, equity, and the health of the air, land, and water.”  

This expansion is a collaborative effort made possible with significant trust and leadership from our longtime partners Interior Savings as well as Vancity and the Real Estate Foundation of BC. A big shoutout also goes to Community Futures Central Okanagan for their enabling role in making this happen. TIF continues to seek additional investment partners. Read the release and quotes here.

We are excited to begin investing in social enterprises and social purpose organizations in the BC Interior. Take a look at www.thriveimpactfund.ca to see our investment priorities. For social enterprises who want to consider investment from TIF, please visit the website and connect directly to Impact Investment Manager Emeline Le Guin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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How Kelowna's most luxurious taxi service is leading industry change

In this episode of Business Matters, presented by Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union, host Rob Cupello is joined by Lindsay Iannucci, Sales and Marketing Manager for Current Taxi to chat about the impact of COVID on the transportation industry and what the future holds as we move out of the pandemic.

The future of the cab industry is sustainable, luxury, and customizable, and Current Taxi is a major driver (no pun intended) of these changes. Current Taxi has a fleet consisting of entirely Tesla vehicles, making them a leader in sustainable transportation. They have also recently launched an app that helps facilitate custom service for their corporate partners and clients.

Watch the full episode to learn about how taxi service is evolving in the post-pandemic era and what you can expect during your ride with Current Taxi.

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