Shuswap Food Conversations

This show from February of 2023 includes Warren's Conversation with Melanie Bennett and Serena Caner of the Shuswap Food Action Society. In addition to an update on SFAS programs and events, the conversation will focus on the Coldest Night Of the Year event coming up on February 25th in Salmon Arm.

This week listeners will hear Warren Bell's conversation from March of 2023 with Kate Boutillier, owner and pastry chef at Flake Pastry shop in Salmon Arm. Kate will talk about her culinary training, competitions and experiences in Europe, Vancouver and Kelowna before coming back to Salmon where she has used the ZEST Food Hub to help get her pastry business started. Kate has recently opened her ow...

In this episode hear Warren Bell in conversation with Pim and Mary-Ann van Oeveren, owners at Tasty Acres u-pick organic farm in Salmon Arm. Both originally from Holland, Pim and Mary-Ann came to Canada in 1996. Pim is a certified grower and landscaper, Mary-Ann is a certified teacher in fine arts, and floral design, and a self-taught cook. Hear them share their stories of family farming in Hollan...

In this episode hear part two of Warren's in conversation with Jamie Smith of Marionette Winery in Salmon Arm. Jamie will talk about the grape varieties grown in the vineyard, soil and pest management, plus harvesting, fermenting and blending wines.

From January 2023 - Hear Warren talking with Gisele Yasmin, former Executive Director of Food Secure Canada.

In this episode from February 2023 hear Warren Bell's conversation with Karla Ferster, founder and inspiration behind Frog Friendly Coffee Company located in Canoe BC. Karla's story is one of living with integrity while bringing organically grown, sustainable coffee from the highlands of Mexico to your home.

In this episode from February of 2023 hear Warren Bell's conversation with Markus Jaeger, owner and Master Baker at Inspired Breads in Salmon Arm. Hear about Markus and Ursula's journey from Germany to Vancouver and now to Salmon Arm with their four children) where they have established a home based bakery and hobby farm from which they serve local farmers markets with their unique and "inspiring"...

In this episode hear Warren Bell's conversation with Jamie Smith, co-owner and winemaker at Marionette Winery in Salmon Arm. In this show you will hear how Jamie, while raised in Salmon Arm, was introduced to winemaking through his extensive travels in Europe. Learn about the history of the Marionette Winery name and how he and partner Amanda Eastwood came to start up a new winery back in Jamie's...

In this episode listeners will hear Warren Bell in conversation with Sue Moore of Sudoa farm in Salmon Arm. Organic farmer, teacher and community resource, Sue has years of experience growing food and managing gardens. Sue will offer some pre-season gardening tips for local gardeners.

In this episode, Warren has a conversation with Mike Schroeder, owner at Lakeland Farms in Salmon Arm. Mike and his wife Sarah manage a multi-generational farm raising organic beef and poultry, and growing feed crops on 325 acres of farmland in the Salmon River Valley. Mike will talk about the challenges and successes of growing their organic farm business while raising a family in the Shuswap.

In this episode Warren is in conversation with Launa Purcell and Sherelle Anderson of Rise Up Indigenous Wellness here in Salmon Arm. Launa and Sherelle will talk about the programs and services they offer to indigenous youth and families living in urban areas. Program participants learn sustainable food practices and are encouraged to regain and sustain their cultural heritage through traditional...

This week listeners will hear Warren Bell in conversation with Samuel Myers MD, MPH, of Harvard University. Sam studies the human health impacts of accelerating disruptions to Earth’s natural systems, a field recently dubbed Planetary Health. He is a Principal Research Scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and is the founding Director of the Planetary Health Alliance ( www.pla...

In this episode from April 2023 listeners will hear Warren Bell in conversation with Chef Nimmi Erasmus about the Culinary Arts program at Salmon Arm Secondary School (Sullivan Campus). Chef Nimmi has been integrating Farm to School principles into the SAS cafeteria and Culinary Arts program, including sourcing from local farmers when possible, incorporating seasonal menus and engaging the next ge...

This week listeners will hear Warren Bell in conversation with Tony Van den Tillaart of Fieldstone Organics, a certified organic grain handling facility located in Armstrong BC. Fieldstone Organics provides whole grains, legumes & seeds to bulk, wholesale and retail consumers. Tony heads up the organic farm operations and is continually pioneering new methods and crops on the farm. Fieldstone...

Warren's guests for this episode are Melanie Bennett and Serena Caner from the Shuswap Food Action Society. Together they look back to the success of the Coldest Night of the Year event in 2023, and talk about more recent events such as Indigenous Foodways and the Ross Street market, and then spring forward to talk about what's going on at the community teaching garden and food forest projects her...

In this episode Warren is in Conversation with Ron and Jennifer Ste. Marie of Notch Hill Community Growers. Hear Ron and Jen’s story of retiring from their jobs in Kamloops and purchasing a 160 acre farm in Notch Hill where, as first time farmers, they are working to grow vegetables and engage other farmers in a cooperative style of farming. While they are at it they are helping to build community...

This week hear Warren’s conversation with Ishkandar Ahmed, former CEO of Choices Markets. Ishkandar will share his experience in the food importing and retail business working to compete with the big chains while maintaining a local and largely organic range of products. Ishkandar brings a unique perspective on the global food business.

This week hear Warren in conversation from 2023 with Jim McEwan, Manager of the Salmon Arm Fall Fair. Jim and his team are busy organizing the annual agricultural fair which takes place at the Salmon Arm Fair Grounds September 8-10, 2023. The first Fall Fair was held in 1897, and the event has served as a gathering place for community members to showcase their crops, produce and talents ever since...

In this episode hear Warren in Conversation with Elmarie Roberts, volunteer and educator with the Shuswap Food Action Society. Elmarie's background includes time as a teacher, small scale farmer, and Gaia College Canada instructor. She has education and experience with permaculture, organic farming as a business, and is an organic master gardener. Elmarie's focus is on healthy food and effective,...

Warren welcomes back Launa Purcell and Sherelle Anderson of Rise Up, Indigenous Wellness. Launa and Sherelle talk about their indigenous food security programs for urban indigenous people in the shuswap area. Rise Up Indigenous Wellness is an Indigenous run and directed Non Profit organization based out of Salmon Arm. The organization arose to address gaps in services for Indigenous children, yout...

In this episode from September of 2023 hear Warren Bell in conversation with Jennifer Chernecki and Howie McMillan, Manager and Coordinator respectively of the Salmon Arm Downtown Farmer's Market that occurs every Saturday on Ross Street in Salmon Arm. Jen and Howie will talk about the growing success of local Farmer's Markets and their impact on the surrounding communities.

In this episode from September 2023 Warren welcomes Claire Askew. Claire is President of the Shuswap Food Action Society and is part of the Askew's grocery family that serves the North Okanagan. She will be talking about her time working in the family business, being involved as a volunteer in the community, and about a new project she and her husband have initiated designing and establishing food...

This episode from October 2023 includes Warren's conversation with Brad DeMille, Owner and CEO at DeMille's farmer's market in Salmon Arm, BC. Brad talks with Warren about food supply chain challenges, food prices and food security in the Shuswap. He will also share his stories about the DeMille’s family business, how the business has evolved and prospered, and their plans for the future.

This episode is an encore edition of Warren's conversation with Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri (retired). Dr. Ikerd is an academic advocate for sustainable agriculture - agriculture that meets the needs of all in the present while leaving equal or better opportunities for those of the future. That includes a focus on Deep Sustainability, Commun...

In this episode from October of 2023 Warren welcomes Vahlleri Semeniuk to the show. Vahlleri is the Manager of Second Harvest Food Bank in Salmon Arm. Second Harvest is a volunteer run service distributing nutritious food to over 250 families in need each week. Vahlleri talks about how Second Harvest got started, how families and volunteers get involved, and a bit about what brought her to leading...