Bringing Vancouver Island to the Harvest Table - Edible Valley Episode 274

From Farm to Table: The Story Behind the Harvest Table

What does it take to bring an entire community together around a table?

In this episode 274 of the Edible Valley Podcast, Chef Jonathan Frazier talks with Chef Paul Stewart and Rebecca Papadopoulos about the upcoming Harvest Table at Keating Farm in the Cowichan Valley, taking place September 26 as part of the Food Day Canada celebration.

Paul shares the story of Food Day Canada, which began more than 20 years ago as a grassroots effort to support Canadian beef producers and has grown into a national celebration of Canadian farmers, ranchers, fishers, food producers, chefs and the people who support them.

Rebecca takes us inside the story of Keating Farm, one of the Cowichan Valley’s historic farms. After purchasing the property in 2014, Rebecca and her husband have spent the past 12 years restoring the farm, its heritage buildings and its agricultural operations, while finding new ways to welcome people onto the property.

The conversation then turns to how Paul and Rebecca connected and how an idea that started with a conversation about agritourism and culinary tourism developed into the Harvest Table.

The event brings together chefs, farmers, fishers and producers from across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The menu is designed to showcase local and seasonal ingredients, with everything from Keating Farm turkey and lamb to Island seafood, vegetables, honey, fruit and other locally produced ingredients.

Jonathan and the guests also talk about the chefs involved, why getting them on board was one of the easier parts of organizing the event, and how much work goes into bringing hundreds of people together for one meal.

But the Harvest Table is about more than food.

Paul and Rebecca share their vision for creating an annual fall gathering that connects people with the farms, producers and chefs behind their food, while also supporting local food security initiatives and organizations. They also see the event as an opportunity to showcase Vancouver Island as a destination for agritourism and culinary tourism.

At its heart, the Harvest Table is about connection: bringing people together, sharing a meal, telling stories and celebrating the people who help put food on our tables.

Join us for a conversation about Food Day Canada, Keating Farm, Vancouver Island food, and the people behind the Harvest Table.

Learn more about the Harvest Table:
harvesttablevi.ca

Learn more about Food Day Canada:
Food Day Canada

Learn more about Keating Farm:
Keating Farm

And as always, thanks for listening to the Edible Valley Podcast. Like, share and subscribe, and help us continue telling the stories of the people who grow, produce, cook and celebrate food here on Vancouver Island.

#EdibleValley #HarvestTable #FoodDayCanada #KeatingFarm #VancouverIslandFood #CowichanValley #LocalFood #FarmToTable #Agritourism #CulinaryTourism