Variety Produce in Bins in Farm Roadside Stand (Photo 103499418 © Denise P. Lett | Dreamstime.com)

By Kevin Rothwell

About 20 farms and artisans

B.X. “Know Your Farmer” tour being planned

May 9, 2021 | 7:00 AM

A new fun way to explore the B.X. area, and get some shopping done at the same time, is coming together.

The initiative called ‘B.X. Know Your Farmer Tour’ was spearheaded by the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) through the local ‘farm to table network’.

“All the neighbors farms in the B.X. area have decided to come together and collaborate, to support each other, so it is a really big positive because I think people are often competitive and against each other and introduce more agri-tourism to the public,” Area C Director Amanda Shatzko said.

Three self-guided, self-paced circuit tours of the B.X. are envisioned for June, July and August 2021.

“They are also promoting buy-local. They are going to set-up tours where people can bike or walk and do self serve tours onto the land,” Shatzko added. “Once Covid goes away there will be even bigger opportunities for tourists and those coming off the Okanagan Rail Trail.”

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The tours would include approximately 20 farms and B.X. artisans showcasing their products at a number of route locations.

Initial projections are 200-400 visitors per farm with 20 farm hosts generating $500-$5,000 per farm in immediate daily sales. The program would follow all public health orders.

B.X. Ranchlands will be a host site to showcase the perimeter hiking trail, and as a host location for an artisan pocket market.

“If the B.X. Ranch, which now part of the [Electoral Area] B and C parks service, becomes part of this, then it’s a little bit of exposure to the ideas that are going to come percolating forward on that property,” Area B Director Bob Fleming said.

The Electoral Area Advisory Committee will recommend to the North Okanagan Regional District board that $5,000 in funding from the Rural Economic Development project grant program be awarded to SPARC for the project, which represents 50 per cent of the $10,000 total project cost.

Financial support for the project is also being provided by Vernon Tourism ($2,000), BX/Swan Lake Community Association ($500) and Community Futures North Okanagan ($2,500).