AGRICULTURE OUR ROOTS RUN DEEP
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ith 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. You can buy direct from the farmer at one of the many road side fruit stands where you can sample and purchase delicious local products like jams, honey and 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
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OLIVER COMMUNITY PROFILE
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 midApril (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. OKANAGAN GLEANERS 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. www.okanagangleaners.com