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Friday, November 1, 2013 - The Morning Star B5
E-Mail: lifestyles@vernonmorningstar.com
Students Take a Bite of B.C. Students learn why farms and agriculture play such an important role in society
Katherine MortiMer Morning Star Staff
From fresh cranberries in October, to crimini mushrooms in November, there is no shortage of B.C.-grown and raised products just waiting to be enjoyed. And thanks to the Take a Bite of B.C. program, students at Vernon and Fulton secondary schools are able to enjoy all that farmers have to offer. The program is part of the B.C. Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC), a non-profit organization that works with educators through various programs to bring B.C.’s agriculture to students enrolled in culinary arts programs throughout the province. “Students learn about where their food comes from, how to grow their own food, and why farms and agriculture play such an important role in our society,” said Michelle Fripps, program coordinator-logistics. Take a Bite of B.C. is one of several programs run by the BCAITC and was developed in partnership with the B.C. Culinary Arts Association, B.C. agricultural commodity groups and B.C. producers. BC. grown products are donated by suppliers to the program and delivered to participating school teaching kitchens once a month throughout the school year. At VSS, culinary arts teacher Sandi Slizak said it’s fun to introduce new things to both students and staff. ‘The kids look at parsnips and groan, but I’d like to have them make a parsnip cake with cream cheese icing — we
Sept. 27: Born to Chloe Lentz and Ryan Scott of Rush Lake, Sask., a boy, 8 lbs. 12 oz., named Evan Josiah Scott. A brother for Rowan Scott (who shares the same birthday). A grandson for Carolyn and Reg Reiger of Vernon, B.C.; Marvin Lentz of Edmonton, Alta.; Skip and Maeva Scott of Falkland, B.C. A great-grandson for Sigfried Lentz of Camrose, Alta.; Percival Ridge of Adelaide, Australia. Sept. 28: Born to Justin and Tessa Patterson of Coldstream, B.C., a girl, 8 lbs. 4 oz., named Quinn MacKenzie. A granddaughter for Barry and Diane Kasdorf of Coldstream, Mike and Denise Patterson of Kelowna, B.C. New Additions Oct. 2: Born to Cody and Rebekah Barendregt of Vernon, a boy, 8 lbs. 7 oz., named Jude Tobias. A grandson for Peter and Joan Barendregt of Grande Prairie, Alta.; Chris and Cheryl Bannick of Vernon, B.C. A greatgrandson for Bill and Callie Hofsink of Smithers, B.C.; Heddy Barendregt of Grande Prairie; John and Ann Bannick of Kelowna, B.C.; Bob and Shirley McConechy of Lake Country, B.C. Oct. 6: Born to Taylor and Amanda Summerfelt of Lumby, a girl, 10 lbs. 9 oz., named Freya Lynn. A granddaughter for Nick and Marlene Verhage, Tess Verhage, Jamie and Barb Summerfelt, all of Lumby, B.C. A greatgranddaughter for Don and Donna Rickman of Kamloops, B.C.; Jim and Gail Summerfelt of Lumby; Stan and Gail Sulek of Edmonton, Alta.; Kay Sulek of Calgary, Alta. Oct. 8: Born to Tim and Christine Barbour of Vernon, a girl, 6 lbs. 8 oz., named Everly Anna Lynn. A sister for Alexandra, 4; Ryan, 2. A granddaughter for Vern and Gennie Jontz of Vernon, B.C.; Dave and Jacki Barbour of West Kelowna, B.C. Oct. 9: Born to Josh and Erin Makasoff of Vernon, a girl, 7 lbs. 13 oz., named Olivia Mia. A granddaughter for Michael and Kim Makasoff of Lumby, Shelia and Ken Grieve of Vernon. A great-granddaughter for Fred and Rita Makasoff of Vernon, George Grieve of Merritt; Shawn Reagh of Abbotsford. Oct. 11: Born to Colin and Alisha Niemeyer of Valemount, B.C., a boy, 8 lbs. 8 oz., named Jack William. A grandson for Gys and Sheelagh Niemeyer, Debbie Kunz, all of Vernon, B.C. A great-grandson for Olga Hunter of Vernon. Oct. 14: Born to Luke Wingate and Sara-Lee Lemay of Vernon, a boy, 9 lbs., named Karson Noel Wingate. A brother for Aiden. A grandson for Laura-Lee Grassie of Vernon, B.C.; Noel Lemay of Calgary, Alta.; Cindy Arsenault, Linda and Bob Lemon, all of Vernon. Oct. 15: Born to Ken and Amber Taves of Vernon, a boy, 7 lbs. 11 oz., named Evan Luca. A brother for Kayla, 4; Declan, 2 1/2. A grandson for Abe and Heather Taves of Vernon, B.C., Les and Shelley Collins of Lethbridge, Alta. A great-grandson for Lillian Amlin-Collins of Lethbridge.
Stork report
Katherine MortiMer/Morning Star
Vernon secondary school students Devin Nowlin (left), Grade 11, and Max Mitchell, Grade 12, cook up a batch of chicken in the cafeteria, as part of the Take a Bite of B.C. program are putting it in their hands,” she said. “When we had turkeys delivered in September, we made a big turkey dinner, along with blueberry pie from the berries we received, and sold the meal to students and staff for $3. The Take a Bite of B.C. program was launched in 2009 in 14 schools. There are currently 28 secondary schools participating, with the program expanding this year to include four Okanagan schools. All products are donated by the farmers to enhance the culinary students’ learning experience by enabling them to work with fresh local products and providing awareness about where their food is grown. “The farmers see the benefits of the students in the culinary arts program who benefit. The program keeps it close to home because if there are no farmers, there’s no food,” said Fripps, who credits Metro Vancouver for providing funding to ship the produce to the schools. “The kids get to try something new, like the Ramiro Hot Peppers or the Crescensco Grill Peppers.” Next up will be a shipment of rutabagas and turnips and no, said Fripps, they are not
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Displaying home-grown products are VSS culinary arts teacher Sandi Slizak (left) Grade 11 student Mariah Klein and Emma Sweeney and Michelle Fripps, with the B.C. Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. the same thing. BCAITC has a number of programs that connect kids with agriculture. The B.C. School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program delivers fresh, local fruit and vegetable snacks to more than half a million students in B.C. More than 1,400 schools participate in the program, funded by the B.C. Ministry of Health. “So students learn what’s grown in B.C. and that it tastes good, and it’s amazing what students learn — I have had students who have never tasted a plum before,” said Fripps. “I remember as a kid growing up on the Coast that we were always really excited when the Okanagan cherries arrived, but
many kids today are unaware of where their food is grown. There is a disconnect where once many of us had grandfathers and great-grandfathers who had come from the farm. “The fruit and veg program got them engaged at an early age and we are now getting them excited about mushrooms, chickens and cheese. The teachers are inspiring the student, putting the foods in the hands of the students.” And it all comes back to eating locally as much as possible. “It’s a shorter period of time from picking to eating, as these are not varieties that were developed for transport, so the flavours are better.”
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