North Saanich mayor Peter Jones and Saanich mayor Dean Murdock were joined by Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey and Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiative Roundtable (CRFAIR) executive director Linda Geggie to kick off the annual Flavour Trails celebration with a 'mayors' zucchini race.'
At the Junction Orchard and Cidery in Saanich on Thursday, June 27, CRFAIR kicked off the event, which aims to showcase local food makers and farms through a celebration that grows the local food economy, while creating opportunities for community food literacy for the community and visitors to the region.
Geggie won the first race against Nursey, and Murdock won the second against Jones.
On July 6, visitors can take a marked trail route throughout Saanich (look for the flags), exploring up to nine vendors including local distilleries, honey producers, farmers, and farm gates, showcasing everything from flowers to honey to beer and cider.
On Sunday, July 7, CRFAIR will host the first-ever Savour Saanich Flavour Trails Market at the 57th Annual Strawberry Festival at Beaver Lake - featuring everything from wool goods to cupcakes, and tacos to farm produce – on offer from 11-4 p.m. Food diversity will be on full display as newcomer makers and creators will develop and present an array of multi-ethnic, cultural foods and recipes adapted from BC ingredients.
This is the first year Saanich will be joining the celebration, and Geggie said she hopes to get other municipalities to join in the future.
The North Saanich Flavour Trails festival will be held on August 17 and 18 with over 15 Flavour Trail stops and a pancake breakfast.
Learn more about the event at https://www.flavourtrails.com.
With files from Sam Duerksen
