A conference to help connect chefs with food producers was held in Vancouver last month.
The event, “Every Chef Needs a Farmer, Every Farmer Needs a Chef,” included farmers, ranchers and fishers from across the province.
“I’ve been thinking about and dreaming about this day for a very long time. Back when I was a farmer, I knew the connections I made with the restaurant industry could make or break my own business,” provincial Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said at the Nov 13 event.
The day included panel sessions, exhibitors and networking time.
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Kevin Klippenstein with Klippers Organics took part in the panel discussion with British Columbia farmers.
He said in the past, his business relied on chefs turning out at farmers markets and approaching them to source their products.
“About five years ago, we decided we would start delivering. Before, we didn’t deliver and once we started delivering to our chefs, they ended up, they would tell other chefs and it would just keep going around and that’s how we built our relationship.”
David Speight, an executive chef and culinary director with the University of British Columbia, said it’s important that chefs are thinking about sourcing from B.C. first.
