From Farms to Forks

Magik Moments Await at our Trivia Party!

Our annual appreciation party for volunteers, donors and members of our Champion Radish club is coming up on June 12th. We're giving thanks to all the folks that support Growing Chefs by contributing the time, expertise, and funds that make our work possible.

Here’s what we have planned for this year’s party:

Elevate Your Selfie:
Magik Moments will be at the event! Bring your smile (and your silly) and capture the fun!

Trivia:
The quiz-tacular party begins at 4:30pm and we'll be hosting two rounds of family-friendly food trivia at 5:00pm and 5:45pm!

Food & Drinks:

We’ll be snacking on:
Aiyaohno Cafe: vegan gyoza and edamame hummus with crudité.
Salmon n' Bannock & Earnest Ice Cream: Signature Bannock served with Jam and a scoop of Earnest Ice Cream. 
We hope you will leave our party having tasted some fantastic flavours. Our offerings will be appetizer-size portions, please make plans for dinner after the event.

We’ll be sipping up:
Phillips Soda Works, Sheringham Gin, Lumette!, wine, beer and more! 

Prizes:
Trivia and Door prizes generously donated by Bruno Feldeisen, Earnest Ice Cream, East Van Jam, HerbaLand Naturals, House of Knives, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Sea Cider, Tacofino, and West Coast Seeds.  

Details:
Date: Wednesday, June 12th
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Location: Gladstone Secondary School  - Cafeteria

Registration:
If you are a donor, volunteer, or enthusiastic supporter of Growing Chefs, this event is for you. We ask that all attendees are registered for the event. Please reach out to afton@growingchefs.ca to receive a registration link. Kids are welcome to attend!

Special Thanks to our Event & Prize Sponsors

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Save the Date! From Farms to Forks Returns

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An elegant plate of food with the words Save the Date

On October 1st, 2023, we will hold our 14th annual From Farms to Forks fundraising event. We are so excited to once again gather in person to celebrate the treasures and talent of our local food and culinary communities. A kitchen party at its best — From Farms to Forks brings together local chefs, growers, and makers to curate an evening of tasting plates and pairings to support our mission of connecting chefs, kids, and communities to foster systemic change towards healthy, sustainable, and just food practices.

For the first time since 2019, we will be returning to the Harvest Kitchen Party format, where guests can wander between chef stations to taste a delicious assortment of plates and wine pairings while interacting with the growers, chefs, and other guests. The evening will also feature a silent auction of items and experiences donated by local businesses and individuals.

Our From Farms to Forks raffle is back with incredible prizes! Raffle tickets will be available to the general public, so you can still join in on all the fun if you are unable to attend the event. All proceeds from raffle sales, ticket purchases, and silent auction bids will support our food literacy programs.

Tickets to the gala fundraiser and the raffle will be available in August. Mark your calendars!

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Donor Shoutout: From Farms to Forks 13 Auction

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Thank you to all the people and local businesses that donated products, services, and experiences to the From Farms to Forks 13 Auction. Our winners have been gushing about the quality of the lovely packages, as they happily took them home to enjoy!

Check out the list of our generous Auction Donors below, you might find the perfect local business to support this winter. To everyone that donated to the auction - THANK YOU!

From Farms to Forks 13 Auction Donors:

Abeego

Agro Coffee Roasters

Anita's Organic Mill

Anja Jane

April Lacheur Art

Arterra Wines

Audain Art Museum

Authentic Wine & Spirits

Autostrada

Banyen Books & Sound

BC Lions

Bella Wines

Big White Ski Resort

Bon Macaron Patisserie

Boosh Foods

Canadian Outback Rafting

Climb Base5

Culmina Family Estate Wineries

Dalina

Davis Bay Tea Co.

Dead Frog Brewery

Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort

Dilly Dally

Earnest Ice Cream

Ellen Schwartz

Everything Wine (River District)

Fable Home

Fairmont Hotel Whistler

Fjallraven

Forbidden Vancouver

Four Winds Brewery

Gourmet Warehouse

Grizzli Winery

The Hive, North Shore

House of Knives

Iron Dog Books

Joey Restaurant

JOEY Restaurants

Kics Lemonade

Iris Lord & Lois Gagnon

Kidsbooks

Kitsch Wine

Kizzy's Macarons

Klippers Guest Suites

Klippers Organic Acres

Krause Berry Farm

Kula Kitchen

The Little Butcher

Little Creek Dressing

Little Kitchen Academy

Loot Toy Co

Mission Hill Family Estate Winery

Museum of Anthropology, UBC

Nature Bee

Off the Rail Brewing

Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm

Olé Cocktail Co.

Pacific Coastal Airlines

Pacific National Exhibition

Pacific Theatre

Parallel 49 Brewery

Parkside Brewery

Penguin Random House

Pizzeria Farina

Plot Wines

Pomme Natural Market

Pure Float

Rio Theatre

River Safari

Roberts Creek Wellbeing

Row Fourteen

Saul Good Gift Co.

Sea to Sky Gondola

Search & Rescue Denim Co

Select Wines

Soirette Connections

Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub & Guesthouses

Sriracha Revolver

Supported Soul

Swallow Tail Canada

Terra Breads

Tru Earth

Untangled Craft Cider

Vancouver Circus School

Vancouver International Children's Festival

Vancouver Mysteries

Vancouver Mysteries

Vancouver Naturopathic Clinic

Vancouver Water Adventures

Vancouver Whitecaps

The Wildflower

Ziptrek Ecotours

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Thank You Poem: From Farms To Forks 13

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On November 6th, 2022 we hosted our 13th annual From Farms to Forks fundraiser. We have celebrated From Farms to Forks for the past two years online, so it was a special milestone to return to this event in person. In following tradition, our founder Merri Schwartz has written a poem to thank the many people and organizations that made From Farms to Forks 13 happen. Thank you all!

From Farms to Forks 13: Thank You Poem

Oh my, what a joy, to gather in person,

It’s been far too long, our hearts were a hurtin’.

So though we are smaller, and seated, we’re here!

Let’s raise a glass with warm hearts and good cheer.

Now you know the drill—there are thanks we must make, 

To the many whose toil and whose hands it does take,

To pull this together, to get you all fed,

We’ll eat and we’ll drink once these thanks have been said!

And on that note, let’s start off with wine! 

Mission Hill for the pairings, the sips oh-so-fine.

And Bella, the sparkling you imbibed as you entered,

We all know the wine’s where the dinner is centered.

To PICA, for year after year as our hosts,

Without them there’d be nowhere else for our toasts!

To Whole Foods, a sponsor, you’re just so darn generous,

Artona, for printing the programs among us.

Many drinks to enjoy, both boozy and not,

You just won’t believe the refreshments we’ve got!

Plenty Hard, Karma Soda, KICS, Bucha Brew,

Of course there is beer: Strange Fellows, too.

For oysters: Outlandish. From Terra: our bread.

The farms and producers who keep us well fed.

They’re here, they’re among us! So keep an eye peeled,

And thank them for bringing you food from their fields.

SpencerCreo—our office, our home and our space,

You gave Growing Chefs the most lovely place.

Of course, to the chefs, we are ever-so-tickled,

You came and created, you seared and you pickled.

Speaking of chefs, thanks to Ted and to Tret,

Our live auction chefs on whose skills you will bet,

And bid! That’s a hint. So keep your cards ready,

When bidding starts up, keep those hands waving steady.

Our silent auction donors, too many to name,

Our Emcees, without who, t’would not be the same,

Margaret and Shiva, with eloquent chatter,

Who keep us apprised of the flow of the matter.

Our Champion Radishes—25 with us,

They donate each month to keep us in business.

Our Board, for their vision, their guidance so grand,

Our staff, who are truly the best in the land.

The volunteers who showed up to help you all feast, 

Pedersens, for rentals, not last and not least.

To Kym Buna Real Estate, a sponsor so kind,

To Blue Heron/Lumi for blowing our minds…

With cheese! It is vegan! Believe it or not.

With H4H honey, Davis Bay Tea in the pot.

We’re surrounded by flowers, four generous shops,

Donated those bunches to grace table tops.

Edible Vancover and Scout, for spreading the word,

Without them who knows if you’d even have heard,

That we’re back! Back in action. With our 13th darn gala!

And whew! Thanks a lot, that’s all I’ve got to tell ya.

From Farms to Forks is Back in Person!

You're invited! On November 6, 2022, at 5:30 pm, we are holding our 13th annual From Farms to Forks harvest kitchen party. IN PERSON! From Farms to Forks pairs many of the province’s greatest chefs with B.C.'s finest growers and producers. Hosted in the dining room and teaching kitchens of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, guests watch the chefs in action, meet the growers, and enjoy delicious tasting plates* - each paired with a different wine from Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. This years' seated event includes an in-person silent and live auction for event attendees, as well as an online auction and raffle open to all of our supporters.

The aim is to raise $75,000 for Growing Chefs edible education programming and initiatives throughout the current school year supporting B.C. kids and their families.

Limited tickets are available for $250 each.

To avoid service fees:

Please notify us (afton@growingchefs.ca) if you're planning to purchase tickets outside of the online platform. Seating is limited and we don't want you to miss out.

* Many tasting plates will have a vegetarian alternative, however, the food may not be suitable for those who choose to eat vegan or have severe allergies. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

The Talented Chefs Behind From Farms to Forks

We have a premium selection of local chefs responsible for creating mouth-watering recipes for us to taste!

This Year's Bountiful Harvest is Courtesy of...

Each dish begins with high quality ingredients donated by some of B.C.'s most incredible growers and producers.

From Farms to Forks Sponsors

We’re grateful for the generous support of our sponsors who helped us put this event together. Click on the logos below to learn more about each of them!

Please Donate Today

If you're not able to attend our upcoming fundraising events, we ask that you consider making a donation to bring edible education to B.C. kids and youth!

Your gift will help build connections to the earth, local food systems, and with one another through edible education programs.

Growing Chefs is where kids’ connections to food take root.

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From Farms to Forks Auction – Coming this October!

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Spring is a busy time at Growing Chefs! Our spring program is in full swing and we are starting to plan our favourite fall fundraiser. That’s right, From Farms to Forks 13 is coming this October. From Farms to Forks is our biggest fundraiser and always includes a totally rad(ish) auction. Our auction features the best in B.C. experiences, services, products, food, and beverages. Plus, we make the niftiest, creative names for our auction packages. We might be a bit biased, but we think our auction is the best thing since sliced carrots.

If you have an item that you would like to donate to thE 2022 auction, please fill out our online form. We’d be very happy to hear from you!

We would like to give a big thank you to all the people and local businesses that donated to last year’s auction. Check out the list of our generous auction donors below, you might find the perfect business or experience to explore.

From Farms to Forks 12 Auction donors (scroll down for photos):

All of Oils Wholesome Oils & Vinegars
Anh and Chi
Anita's Organic Mill
Ask For Luigi
Autostrada
Bandidas
BC Lions
Burdock and Co.
Canadian Outback Rafting
Dalina
Davis Bay Tea Co.
Dead Frog Brewery
Di Beppe
Dilly Dally
Earls
Enotecca Wineries and Resorts Inc.
Fernwood Coffee Company
Forbidden Vancouver
Four Winds Brewery
Giovane Bacaro
Gourmet Warehouse
Greater Vancouver Zoo
House of Knives
Hume Hotel & Spa
Iron Dog Books
Island Eko Pantry
Jackie Frioud Pottery
Joey Restaurant
Kannusamy
Kidsbooks
Klippers Guest Suites
Klippers Organic Acres
Little Kitchen Academy
Loot Toy Co
Iris Lord
Lumette
Marzano
MIla
Modo
Farah Motani
Museum of Anthropology, UBC
Niche Grocerant
Penguin Random House
Pure Float
Ranger Teacrafters
Rio Theatre
Roberts Creek Wellbeing
Row Fourteen
Salt Spring Cider
Scandinave Spa
Ellen Schwartz
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
Search & Rescue Denim Co
Sea to Sky Gondola
Sheringham Distillery
Sons of Vancouver Distillery Ltd
SPUD
Stile Brands
Susgrainable
Tempo Dry Gin
Terminal City Brewing
The Keefer Bar
The Preservatory
Thomas Allen & Son
Tractor Everyday Healthy Foods
Untangled Craft Cider
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Mysteries
Vancouver Naturopathic Clinic
Vancouver Water Adventures
What's Good Brands
Whole Foods Market
Jaydeen Williams
Ziptrek Ecotours




Donor Shoutout: Culinary Cache

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We soared through the From Farms to Forks Food Series, but we want to take a moment to look back and spread the love to our amazing sponsors and donors. Today we will be acknowledging those who contributed to our Culinary Cache, a complimentary gift bag that was delivered to our Food Series pass holders filled with tasty treats and products celebrating local food producers and businesses.

A big thank you to: Biota Fermentation, Dageraad Brewing, Davis Bay Tea Company, Earnest Ice Cream, East Van Jam, Edible Vancouver Magazine, Fresh Prep, Fresh Roots, Tempo Gin, Helmer's Organic Farm, House of Knives, KICS Lemonade, Klippers Organics, Legends Haul, Mission Hill Family Estate, Nature Bee Beeswax Wraps, Ono Vancouver, RISE Kombucha, Shaketown Brewing, Spread'Em Kitchen, The Preservatory, and Whole Foods Market.

An extra thank you to J. Josue Photography for capturing all of these images, Il Centro, Italian Cultural Centre for providing a safe space to pack our caches, our amazing volunteers from Traction on Demand for helping to pack everything, and Modo for zipping us around town! Below are photos of our team hard at work, and our donors LOVING their caches!