VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 19, 2014) - The BC Agriculture Council and We Heart Local are excited to announce that the second annual We Heart Local Awards officially opens today! The We Heart Local Awards invites people across BC to nominate their favourites in the following 15 delicious categories:
- Favourite Farmers' Market
- Favourite Store to Buy Local
- Favourite Local Meat or Poultry Supplier
- Favourite Local Seafood Supplier
- Favourite Local Cheese Maker
- Favourite Local Sweet Treat
- Favourite Local Advocate
- Favourite Local Winery
- Favorite Local Brewery
- Favorite Local Food Truck
- Favourite Local U-Pick Farm
- Favorite Local Orchard/Fruit Supplier
- Favourite Local Restaurant or Chef
- Favourite Local Florist or Nursery
- Favourite Local Greenhouse or Veggie Grower
"People can really help support local businesses and grow community by spreading the word about what they love," says Editor at Edible Vancouver & Wine Country, Debbra Mikaelsen, voted Favourite Local Advocate in the 2013 We Heart Local Awards. "We can make our food system and agricultural industry stronger through these conversations, connecting farmers, chefs, artisans, retailers, and wineries to each other and to consumers. Our BC backyard is an amazing place and there's a lot to celebrate here!"
"Everyone has a favourite local winery, farmers' market, cheese maker or a store that carries locally grown food and products," says Nancy Gourlay of Little Qualicum Cheesworks, runner up Favourite Local Cheese Maker in the 2013 We Heart Local Awards. "The We Heart Local Awards provides a platform for people in BC to tell each other about their favourites and to draw attention to the fantastic locally grown and produced food and agriculture we have here in BC!"
"The We Heart Local Awards is a celebration of the interest and love British Columbians have for great-tasting local foods, and the incredible amount of options from land and sea that we have to choose from," says BC Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick. "I encourage all British Columbians to support BC producers by voting in the We Heart Local Awards, and by purchasing and enjoying local products year round."
The We Heart Local Awards is a partnership between the BC Agriculture Council, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Global TV, Taku Resort & Marina, The BC Association of Farmers' Markets, The BC Dairy Association, LOCO BC, the BC Restaurants and Foodservices Association and Edible Vancouver and Wine Country.
How the We Heart Local Awards works:
• Nominations are open August 19 - September 1st, 2014. Anyone living in BC can nominate one or more favourites in the categories listed above by visiting www.weheartlocalawards.ca.
• Voting is open September 2 - September 16th, 2014. Anyone living in BC can vote for their favourite nominees in the categories listed above by visiting www.weheartlocalawards.ca.
• Incentives for voting? Nominating and voting for your local BC favourites automatically enters you in weekly draws to win a $100 gift card to your local BC Farmers' Market. You will also be entered in the Grand Prize draw for a luxurious three-night stay at Taku Resort and Marina, along with your choice of a cooking course for two, valued at $2000. This prize includes $300 gift card from BC Ferries to cover the cost of transportation. The Grand Prize winner will be drawn on September 17th. www.weheartlocalawards.ca
About We Heart Local
We Heart Local, formerly known as Buy Local. Eat Natural., is a not-for-profit community forum that aims to promote and bring together BC's local food products, growers and producers. We Heart Local is supported by the BC Agriculture Council and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and sustained by thousands of passionate local food enthusiasts, like yourself! Join us here:
@eatlocalnatural
facebook.com/buylocaleatnatural
pinterest.com/weheartlocalbc
We Heart Local App: http://bit.ly/1dPzyCi
#WeHeartLocal
Contact Information:
Cinci Csere
The Social Agency
+1.604.812.6837
cinci@thesocialagency.ca
www.thesocialagency.ca