Instructional &
Informational Posts
Part city gal, part country chick, Michelle is all foodie. Her obsession extends to extreme nosiness about where her food comes from—including who grows it. So tag along for a peek into the lives and hearts of the British Columbian farmers who grow your fruit.
It’s no secret - we’re evangelical about organic produce. Lucky for us, we’re not alone—there are others as willing to worship at the food alter. Folks like Rob and Kathryn Hettler of Pilgrims’ Produce Organic Farm.
In 1991 the Hettler family meandered from Alberta to Armstrong, BC. Like historic pilgrims, they may have been wanderers in a foreign place, but they weren’t strangers to farming. Rob had an agriculture degree, and the Hettlers had spent six years in Brazil learning about small farming operations.
While these pilgrims aren’t original settlers to the area, they’re definitely unique in their approach to farming. Running a high density mixed produce operation on a scant 14 acre parcel is impressive enough. But the Hettlers up the stakes: theirs is a mixed crop operation.
Learning the whims of one crop is plenty challenge enough for most farmers. Not so for the Hettlers, who harvest dozens of fruits and veggies throughout the year. When strawberries are finishing, the saskatoons are on, and the raspberries are just beginning. On it goes until the plums and apples herald their ripeness. That’s devotion.
Actually, these devotees knock farming out of the park, producing organics so impressive that the finest restaurants in the Okanagan clamber for their bounty. When the Terrace at Mission Hill Winery buys as much as you can grow every week, you know you’ve arrived.
Ever egalitarian, the Pilgrims share their bounty with regular folks too. You’ll find the Hettlers and their staff at the Vernon and Armstrong Farmers’ Markets. Plus, their delicious CSA boxes sold out for the 2012 season, another testament to their quality.
The Hettlers are downright dogmatic about delicious organics. Need more proof? In 2012, the Certified Organic Association of British Columbia bestowed Rob with its Founder's Award.
Then again, they do have almighty inspiration on their side. The views from the farm are divine—soaring cliffs, spreading fields, and dense pine forests. The sublime scenery infuses the food with its spirit.
These pilgrims have found their calling.
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Michelle Superle wordsmiths with a mission—to make the world a better place and have fun doing it. She’s an English instructor at the University of Fraser Valley, where she teaches literature and writing courses encouraging students to see the world more clearly and use their mighty powers of awesomeness for good. Outside the classroom if she’s not writing, she’s riding horses, running trails, cross-country skiing, or bending yogically. Share a word or two with Michelle.
