New food hub for Okanagan

The Okanagan is set to become home of a new food hub that supports farmers, food and beverage producers and processors, while strengthening food security.

The B.C. government, in partnership with the District of Summerland and Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen, is investing $800,000 over two years in the new Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub (OFIH) in Summerland.

“Expanding the BC Food Hub Network to the South Okanagan will bring new opportunities to local farms and businesses that will help them increase their production, sales and market presence,” Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food, said.

“Summerland is known for its amazing fruit, like cherries, strawberries and peaches, and the food hub will enable entrepreneurs in the area to use those locally grown ingredients to create products to share with British Columbians.”

The development will be the 13th facility in the B.C. Food Hub Network.

Food hubs offer a commercial shared food-processing and innovation space that are intented to increase the volume of food grown and processed locally, create more demand for ingredients from local farmers, and increase the number of local people employed by the food industry.

“Farmers, producers and processors in Summerland share a passion for the agriculture and food industry and bringing the delicious flavours of the South Okanagan to happy eaters across the region and beyond,” Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, said.

“The development of the Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub will provide a catalyst for development of innovative and new ideas by providing access to top-of-the-line equipment and a creative space to nurture the growth of local companies. This is the kind of project that helps build more resilience into rural community economies while strengthening food security for all British Columbians.”

The hubs also aim to address food safety and security issues.

The Summerland hub is expected to be operational by the summer of 2024.