We Heart Local Awards 2013
Celebrating local food and agriculture around the beautiful province of British Columbia, the brand new We (Heart) Local Awards is a new popular choice awards program. The We Heart Local Awards will recognize key players throughout the industry through a nomination process followed by a public vote.
How it Works
- Nominations will be open July 1st to July 15th, 2013. Anyone living in BC can nominate one or more favourites in the categories listed below.
- Voting will be open July 16th to August 5th, 2013. Anyone living in BC can vote for their favourite nominees in the categories listed below by visiting the Facebook campaign page.
- All voters and nominators are automatically included into a prize draw, for a chance to win 1 of 20 $100 gift cards to their local Farmers Market, as well as the deluxe prize: a weekend wine getaway in the Okanagan.
Categories
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We Heart Local Award Categories: Favourite Store to Buy Local Favourite BC Farmers Market Favourite Local Meat or Poultry Supplier Favourite Local Seafood Supplier Favourite Local Cheese Maker Favourite Local Sweet Treat Favourite Local Advocate |
Favourite Local Winery Favourite Local Brewery Favourite Local Food Truck Favourite Local U-Pick Farm Favourite Local Orchard/Fruit Supplier Favourite Local Restaurant or Café Favourite Local Chef Favourite Local Florist or Greenhouse |
The celebration of local BC farming communities and the ‘Buy Local. Eat Natural.’ movement are actively supported by formal organizations such as the British Columbia Dairy Association (BCDA), British Columbia Agriculture Council (BCAC) and British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture. Partners for the We Heart Local Awards are BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, Vancouver Farmers Markets, Georgia Straight and Loco.
Nominations open up next week and to raise awareness about the awards, I have a $250 Vancouver Farmers Market gift certificate to offer up to one lucky reader. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming your favourite farmers market products (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Get your nominations in next Monday and be sure to vote for your favourites. Follow ‘Buy Local. Eat Natural.’ on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the awards and their other initiatives across BC.
Update The winner is Elisabeth!
210 Comments — Comments Are Closed
I love the variety of local potatoes; I’d never seen so many types until I went to the Trout Lake Farmers’ Market.
Love the fruits and vegetables
Love the variety of beautiful fresh fruits and veggies!
I love the fresh and green vegetables!
Veggies 🙂
Corn makes me happy
Love fresh berries at the farmer’s market!
Kale.Apples.Carrots.Baby greens. Tomatoes.Cheese…etc etc etc
fresh fruit and veg, plants and flowers 🙂
fresh berries
Blueberries and strawberries!
Fresh vegetables
Beets…hands down!
Other than fresh, local produce, I love picking up artisan sausages and fresh bread.
Fresh greens!
Fresh fruit and berries mmm
berries
I just learned how to make kale chips so right now we’re digging on KALE.
I have so many favourites it’s hard to choose: came home the other day with some beautiful, crunchy sea asparagus that I’m looking forward to having with some buttery halibut.
heirloom vegetables for sure
Fresh garlic scapes 🙂
Fresh in season fruits and vegetables!
Heirloom Tomatoes hands down.
Local, fresh berries can’t be beat!
My two favourites (their market dates are in my calendar) are Gelderman Farms for their pork products (all natural bacon for sure) and Purebread from Whistler for everything they bake (adults only cookies are my most severe addiction).
All the fresh produce! So yum!
Fresh organic fruits & veggies. Organic meats. Oh…and the baked goods. Yummy. Not to mention the plants for the garden.
strawberries
My favourite product at farmers markets has got to be the tomatoes – such variety and so amazingly delicious!
I just love to find fresh & organic vegetables and of course cheese! I’ve definitely fallen in love with cheese since I moved in BC.
strawberries!
I love the cherry tomatoes, strawberries, corn on the cob, food trucks, the chili, cherries and much more!
Tomatoes of so many varieties. I have no luck growing my own, so REALLY appreciate fresh and tasy, NOT imported and pasty.
organic red butter lettuce
Fresh Kale. $1.50 at the North Vancouver Shipyards Market for a big fresh bunch. You have to get there fairly early, as they sell out before the night is over. I buy two bunches and bake kale chips. FYI – the secret ingredient is truffle oil!
love the bread, fresh produce especially the new in season stuff like peas, strawberries, raspberries, cherries etc), meat, honey, It’s all so good!
I love picking up salmon from our community-supported fishery shares at Skipper Otto, it’s great knowing who caught my fish and where.
It has to be the strawberries!
Love fresh artisan bread!
I love fresh fruit, especially raspberries!
Strawberries!
I love the organic blueberries!
So hard to narrow the list down! Peaches, strawberries, corn, tomatoes, cherries, pears, asparagus just some of the things I look forward to every summer.
I love local corn!
The local Berries and those small potatoes
All the fruits and veggies!
I love the cheesemakers.
I love the bread!
I love getting fresh local fruits & veggies.
Definitely can’t beat the fresh fruit and veggies. I also love Rootables chips, the bean dip guy, the free run meats and the yummy breads!
strawberries
organic, heirloom veggies
Strawberries
carrots!
Local varieties of honey
Raspberries!
Delicious cherry tomatoes.
Apples!
The honey is my favorite.
Russian red kale is what we’re picking up lately- sneaking some extra greens into our baby’s fruit smoothies.
My favourite has got to be the cheese!!!
Seasonal fruit and hard to get items like specialty cheese and meats 🙂 It’s also a good place to track down those hard to find food trucks!
Blueberries!!!!!!!!!
In addition to the fresh organic produce, I love checking out the food trucks!
Cheese!
The local, organic gluten free products.
Earnest Ice Cream for example.
We love the Chili Tank. Great chili!
I love the local tomatoes. So much flavour.
I like the local baby potatoes.
I go to the farmers market every week for veggies, plants and baked goods
I like the Thai curry from Thai Princess.
Local honey! My favorite is blackberry flower 🙂
Yum! I love fresh fruit and those delicious cherry tomatoes.
fresh fruit – blueberries and strawberries
Fresh herbs, kale, and berries!!
I love the sunflower sprouts!!! my fave! and all the heirloom tomatoes
Local honey and greens. Yum!
spinach!
Cherries! Sour, bing, ranier…you name it. Oh, and those lovely blue potatoes.
Sugar snap peas – Sole Food has the bes tones so far!
Sunchokes are my favourite!!!!
Local strawberries
Fresh berries would be wonderful.
Fresh berries and snap peas
The farmers market at the north vancouver shipyards has a stand that sells the most delicious dark chocolate cookies brushed with icing sugar. I am obsessed!
Cheese, fresh greens and herbs, cherries! Grabbing an iced coffee and baked good and wandering in search of edible treasures.
Summer berries
goat milk
My favourite Farmers Markets items are blueberries and fresh mixed greens.
Local cheese!
Cherries!
Cheese, Cured meats and bread.
fresh goat cheese and lots of of!
Heirloom tomatoes, local corn and baby potatoes
Blueberries!
Fresh garlic picked this morning
EGGS! I love getting my eggs from the market. Also all kinds of veggies and berries.
Veggies
Everything but especially any kind of leafy green.
I love buying berries and other fruit for making jam, plus beets and tomatoes at the farmers’ markets!
Kale!
Berries of any kind. They are so juicy and full of flavor!
baked goods and honey
Blueberries!
i love fresh berries!
love the fresh berries and cherries
All of it. Especially the fruit!
The strawberries and anything organic!
Strawberries.
Cheeesee!! Any and all cheesee!
berries!
Favourite BC Farmer’s Market: Ladner Farmer Market
Favourite BC Local Restaurant: Grub on Main!
Earnest Ice Cream!
I love the guy that makes that awesome Hummus!
Berries, kale, tomatoes, cheeses, jams, breads:o)
Hubby and I love the amazing variety greens that are available. We visit different farmers every week and mix and match a bunch of different kinds to make amazing salads. Topping our salads with sprouts from the market makes our salads extra special and extra healthy!
berries and veggies
raspberries!
Sweet small strawberries
I love the raspberries!
love local cheese (feta); strawberries; spinach – throw these together for a great salad. The canned tuna – Estavan smoked tuna -marvelous!!
ice cream, cheese, blueberries
Apricots 🙂
Local cheeses
Now that I am the proud owner of a juicer I love the variety and quality of the fruits and vegetables I can find at farmer’s markets!
Local olives and seasonal berries!
I love corn
I love everything at the market, it makes it so much easier to eat my fruits and veggies seeing how fresh and beautiful everything looks. My favourite item is blueberries.
Fresh herbs
love local strawberries
My favourite is sweet Peaches & Cream corn.
Sweet corn.
Yummy local strawberries!
I love local berries. Mmmm…
Herbs, especially basil.
fresh fruits and veggies!
its an early cherry season this year! seriously delicious!
always a beautiful spread at the markets. gorgeous and vibrant colours and such a great vibe. being able to meet the awesome people who produce the fantastic foods (and crafts) is a nice bonus too. it really makes you appreciate the meals you make from the fresh (and local!) ingredients that much more.
and those crepes…. oh my!
Great Idea, so many contenders! But Street Meat gets my vote for favorite food cart!
Just love the variety of cheeses at farmer’s markets.
Blueberries!
Strawberries, blueberries, and peaches and cream corn are some of my local fruit and vegie faves!
Love the organic summer berries!
ubc’s farmer’s market: fresh eggs from ubc farm
I like rasberries from Kits Farmer’s Markeet
I live near Kitsilano Farmer’s market, I like everything. The salad fixings are great. The lettuce I get there is the best.
The chocolate items are my fav…I like desserts best, so homemade cookies are my favoutite.
I absolutely love those little green heirloom tomatoes.
Fresh berries!
Organic Kale!
Any kind of local fruit!
Local Honey. So, so good.
Stoney brook farms produce!!!!!
Baked goods!
Fresh seasonal produce and cupcakes 🙂
Apples! Strawberries! Curry sauces from Thai Princess! And new finds every week!
Fruits , veggies and chocolate
Fresh baked bread!!!
Fresh and local!
Love the organic produce and bison sausages
I love the local apple chips!
I love the selection of mushrooms at the Trout Lake market!
Fresh baked goods
fruit and veggies
Garlic scapes! And the bacon from Gelderman Farms.
All that fresh local fruit and veg…. yum! Not like the stuff that travels thousands of miles and is completely tasteless. Especially blueberries.
Berries are the best!!!
Well, I have to vote for @ErinIreland for being the best local sweet treat! What started as a family get-together favourite, has blossomed into an amazing local banana bread empire! I always buy a delicious loaf when I come across it around Vancouver. Way to go, cousin!
blueberries!
Would live to win this! What an exciting contest! Thanks miss604!
Kale! Just went and bought some yesterday!
Fresh, local berries!
Love the selection of local cheeses
Berries for sure- they are the topping to a perfect summer day.
The best part of famers markets: HONEY STiCKS 🙂 so many awesome childhood memories!
Mini Watermelons.
Love the freshness of all products. And the honey!
the best farmers market produce are the blueberries. swweet and delicious
Farmers in overalls 🙂 oh and fresh fruit and veggies
fresh organic greens and veggies…
Raspberries and summer berries!
Herbs like mint and dill.
Beets! And the beanboy guy!
Fresh berries!
It’s so hard to pick just one because every other week what is in season changes! So far I have really enjoyed fresh kale, strawberries and mustard greens. I’m really looking forward to beans, purple carrots, apples and beets. :). I have to give a shout out to the UBC Farm. That place is a real gem! <3
i like heirloom tomatoes
All berries
Qualicum Cheeseworks! And the man who sells them is adorable. 🙂
All of the beautifully colourful and fresh produce.
beets
I enjoy the fresh fruits & veggies and the local treats (baking, preserves, cheeses).
two words: tomatoes and potatoes (specifically heirloom tomatoes and siglinde potatoes)
two words: tomatoes and potatoes (specifically heirloom tomatoes and sieglinde potatoes)typo!
Right now, I’m loving the local raspberries!
I’m a fan of the fresh berries!
love the fresh produce!
Fresh tomatoes!
love love the baked goods (dairy free ones) and apples and baby kale =D
🙂 Hi!
SUNGOLD TOMATOES!
We get them every year from the Trout Lake Farmer’s Market. So good.
Love it all! Can’t wait to check out all the farm markets this summer!
I love to pick up local summer fruits like raspberries, cherries, and nectarines.
some fresh blueberries
My favourite farmer’s market buy is greens! Beautiful, interesting lettuce or watercress or….
Local fresh seafood!
Rootables Chips
I love cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes!
I love all the different varieties of lettuces and herbs!
Baked Goods!
Oysters from Sawmill!