Okanagan College to benefit from province’s Feed B.C. program

British Columbia is providing local food to post-secondary schools across the province, including those in the Okanagan.

The province’s Feed B.C. initiative is helping 20 campuses, including Okanagan College (OC) in Kelowna, access locally grown and produced food.

“Increasing access to fresh, local food on campuses will help feed our next generation of great minds and create new opportunities for our farmers, food producers and processors,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

“The demand for B.C. food and beverages continues to grow and serving more B.C. products in our public post-secondary institutions strengthens our provincial food system and food economy.”

It’s OC’s first year as a partner with Feed B.C.

The school will use its partnership to enhance the OC Culinary and Pastry Arts program, which focuses on a farm-to-table approach with approximately 38 per cent of the products being produced locally.

The local food suppliers for OC consist of Colonial Farms, Two Rivers Specialty Meats, Bishops Seafood Company and Centennial Food Service.

The program also partners with the local winery, Kitsch Wines, and with North Okanagan Beekeepers.

“Feed BC gives students home-grown food options while allowing public post-secondary institutions to buy local, explore sustainable options and meet sustainability goals,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

“By prioritizing B.C. foods on their campuses, these public post-secondary institutions are supporting farmers and agricultural communities across the province.”

Okanagan College is one of 11 post-secondary institutions that became a Feed B.C. partner in 2021.