3 minute read
Agriculture
Envirophoto
Born of the Water | Get Fresh with a Farmer
With more than 400 farms cultivating the land to grow fresh produce, agriculture has been at the heart of Oliver since town namesake Sir John Oliver brought irrigation in the early 1900s.
Come and discover for yourself where your food originates before it arrives at your grocery store. Take a moment to sample delicious local products like jams and honey. Support farmers and agriculture by visiting our fruit stands and weekly farmer’s market where you can purchase a multitude of fresh fruits and vegetables. Few experiences in life are greater than a bite of fresh fruit, picked straight off the tree, still warm from the hot summer sun and bursting with juices of natural sweetness.
From ground crops to fruit trees, farmers have tilled these soils for generations. This is where ‘freshly picked’ means knocking the dirt off a bunch of carrots from the farmers’ stand, or climbing a ladder in the u-pick cherry orchard. Springtime brings weeks of blossoming trees, like a fragrant wave flowing through the valley. Starting in mid-April (cherries) and ending in early May (apples), Oliver orchards literally burst into life. Summer starts harvest time, beginning late in June and stretching well into October.
See all we have to offer. Take a scenic drive or bike ride down a country road. Wave hello to farmers as you pass by them on their tractors. Take a deep breath of fresh air filled with the perfume of ripening fruit and blossoming flowers.
Stand back and drink in the view, the landscape is a patchwork quilt of colours, with golden Bartlett pears, deep red Bing cherries and bright green Granny Smith apples stitched together by rows of vineyards.
Fruit Blossom Harvest
Cherries Mid April Late June - Late July Peaches Mid April Mid July - Mid Aug Apricots Mid April Mid July - Mid Aug Pears Late April Mid July - Late Aug Apples Late April Mid Aug - Late Oct
Because of our warm climate, Oliver and the surrounding area blossoms and harvests fruit approximately 2 weeks ahead of other areas in the Central and North Okanagan.
Lionel Trudel
Giving Back
Okanagan Gleaners
Tony Munday
A true reflection of our bounty and our community spirit, Oliver is home to an organization that helps feed the less fortunate around the world. You can participate in this unique experience that brings together volunteers and is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Gleaning is the collection of leftover crops after fields have been harvested, with a goal of reducing agricultural and food waste. Founded in the autumn of 1994, the Okanagan Gleaners produce dried soup-mix consisting of a plethora of produce. Housed in a converted 1920s tobacco-drying barn and now transformed into a food processing facility. The Gleaners have shipped and distributed more than 45 million servings around the globe since 1996 to those in need – averaging 6 million servings annually.
Surrounded by farms and orchards volunteers gather produce that doesn’t make the grade for store shelves, then work together in a coordinated production line to sort, chop, and peel, often outside in the Oliver sunshine with newfound friends. Some “voluntourists” come each year to help, and can sometimes grab a camping spot to be close to the action. okanagangleaners.ca
250 498 3334 250 498 1143
FRESH FRUIT & VEGETABLE MARKET We have it all!
YOU PICK! WE PICK! annuals • perennials • herbs vegetables • shrubs • evergreens flowering baskets • fruit trees grasses • fountains • garden decor custom & special orders
Variety of Samosas Butter Chicken Stuffed Jalapeños Cold Drinks Gift Items & More!
5555 Hwy 97 South, Oliver, BC
April - June 9am - 6 pm • July - October 9am - 7pm
The Dhaliwal Brothers’ were destined to immigrate from India nearly 25 years ago and have established themselves as one of the Premium Grape Growers in the Okanagan Valley. Their wines include Karma, Moksha, Mantra, which represent the spiritual laws of Destiny. Kismet Estate Winery has opened Masala Bistro a new restaurant on-site. Come try the award-winning wines paired with their delicious authentic Indian Cuisine. Or spend the night in our quaint Heritage home nestled right in the vineyard.
250-495-4462
