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On Wednesday, I was invited to a Feast of Fields preview on-site at Krause Berry Farms in Langley, BC. The event itself will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2011. It’s FarmFolk CityFolk’s 17th annual event that will help raise funds for the organization.

Feast of Fields is a four hour (1 pm to 5 pm) gourmet wandering harvest festival and FarmFolk CityFolk’s annual fundraising event. With a wine glass and linen napkin in hand, you can taste the very best of BC from chefs, vintners, brewers, farmers, fishers, ranchers and food artisans from across the province – some think of it as a 40 course meal paired with wine and beer! Feast of Fields highlights the connections between producer and chef, field and table, and farm folks and city folks. Feast of Fields is a gastronomic journey towards a sustainable, local food system.

FarmFolk/CityFolk has been vocal since 1993 in spreading the word about a BC-wide sustainable food system. This growing movement of community farms and food systems is key for maintaining a healthy supply of products for British Columbians. FarmFolk/CityFolk creates seed security, develops community farms, and provides resources for those looking to eat BC-sourced food.

The organization is also concerned with loss of farmland and aging farmers, not to mention the growth of industrialized food systems and ultimately, safety issues in our modern day food supply. By attending this event, we can all help FarmFolk/CityFolk to keep doing the vital work they’ve been doing for nearly two decades.

Our preview started right here in town with a stop at the Latin Organics café in East Vancouver. CEO/founder Martha Bowen had a dream of living a traditional life that her grandmother enjoyed in her hometown of Valledupar, Columbia. “I wanted to be like a matron who, through my social help to people and to society, would set a goal for other women and other people,” according to Martha.

In 2005, she realized her goal when she opened Latin Organics, a fair trade, organic coffee company whose beans are purchased directly from the Arhuaco Indians, located near her Columbian hometown, some of whom even once traded with her grandfather. Martha Bowen has also been recently nominated for a 2011 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award.

My flavorful iced Americano Misto hit the spot as we boarded the shuttle and headed towards the farm. En route, Chef Dana Reinhardt (also part of the event and passionate about locally-sourced food) passed around a plate of Terra Breads and A Bread Affair goodies to sample with our coffee. Both will be present at Feast of Fields.

[Owners Alf and Sandee Krause]

We were greeted at the farm by owners Alf and Sandee Krause, who led us to the restaurant area for a brief introduction and berry product sampling.

We peeked through the pie production windows and were able to ask questions through a speaker system.

Pumpkin pie is Krause Berry Farms’ seasonal best-seller. Pies are produced during the week and sold then as well as on the weekend. They can also be ordered for pickup.

[Waiting for some tasty pizza just out of the oven]

Afterwards, we boarded an agro-train through the farms, winding up at a lovely spot in the fields where the event will take place.

[Touring the farms]

[Site entrance]

Several local Fraser Valley wineries were on hand to offer a few of their varietals. Seasonal 56 restaurant prepared a gorgeous array of appetizers, including a charcuterie platter (containing some of the best home made rye bread I’ve ever tasted!), One Love Farms mini heirloom squash filled with organic greens from Glorious Organics, and several local cheeses and crostini made with ground organic flour from Anita’s.

[Fresh edible flowers from Glorious Organics]

[Seasonal 56 Maple Hills Farms chicken and zucchini terrine with Agassiz Farm House brie]

[One Love farms heirloom squash stuffed with Glorious Organics salad]

[Selection of Seasonal 56 local blueberry compote]

[Seasonal 56 house made prosciutto, porchetta di testa and country pate]

Personally, I can’t wait to head to Langley one day for either lunch or dinner at the restaurant. Just about everything that’s served is fresh and features Fraser Valley’s finest local products.

Seasonal 56 is close to several valley wineries, breweries, and farms, all the more reason to make a day out in BC’s backyard.

[Lotusland wines poured at lunch]

[Chaberton Meritage with our lunch]

[Township 7 wines at lunch]

The wines present are all part of the event and included Township 7, Lotusland Vineyards, and Domaine de Chaberton Estate Winery.

The weather was perfect with both conversation and wine flowing all afternoon. Afterwards, we headed to a small but charming cottage (that can be rented out via the farm) for coffee and homemade fudge to take home.

[Great little cottage on the farm]

[Coffee and relaxing on the farm]

Before boarding the shuttle home, we stopped inside the store where scrumptious pies, fresh fruit, soaps, gifts, and those delicious lavender muffins can all be purchased to take home.

[Top row: lavender doughnuts]

[Krause Berry Farms soaps]

While Langley isn’t exactly next door for most Vancouverites, the event organizers did assure us that a shuttle service will be made available so that attendees can truly enjoy the wine and food! The cost is $15 return (available online only, where you can also purchase event tickets) and leaves from two locations:

Choices on Cambie at noon
Commercial & 10th Avenue at 12:15 pm

Many thanks to Dana Reinhardt for inviting me to join the group, and to Alf and Sandee Krause who ensured that our visit to the farm was an experience to remember!