By Summer Dhillon. Commonly referred to as the Applebarn, Taves Family Farms Applebarn was honoured with two awards this past week.
The first was as “Market Vendor of the Year”, announced by the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM), at the 2013 BC Association of Farmers’ Markets Awards. The BCAFM’s Annual Conference took place February 28 – March 2 and was themed “leading the local food revolution”.
List of award recipients:
· Vernon Farmers Market (Large farmers’ market with 40+ vendors)
· South Cariboo Farmers Market (Medium farmers’ market with 21-40 vendors)
· Sorrento Village Farmers’ Market (Small farmers’ market with under 20 vendors)
· Bruce Fatkin from the Abbotsford Farm and Country Market (Market Manager of the Year)
· Taves Family Farm Applebarn from Abbotsford (Market Vendor of the Year)
· UBC Farm Farmers’ Market (Special Achievement Award)
Taves Family Farms was also given the AgriLink (local food) Award at the Third Annual Abbotsford Environmental Leadership Awards, hosted by the Abbotsford Matsqui Rotary Club on March 7. This AgriLink Award is granted to an organization that creates sustainable connections with local farmers and demonstrates efforts leading to more local food made available to consumers.
The Taves’ entire operation is founded on environmentally responsible and ethical farming practices, innovation, community, and quality. Examples include supporting the 100-mile diet with direct farm marketing, implementing robust recycling programs, practicing ‘Integrated Pest Management’, building certified greenhouses scoring in the 90th percentile, supplying reputable companies, and gaining approval through the Environmental Farm Plan Program and Good Agricultural Practices Program.
“Our philosophy is to continue perfecting the complex relationship between the land and the resources and the business of growing food. We are passionate about what we do and will continue to operate on the principles founded by my grandparents,” says Loren Taves, Owner of Taves Family Farms.
Taves Family Farms consists of 4.5 acres of greenhouses that grow artisan vegetables, 12 acres of apples (8 main varieties), 14 acres of berries, 7 acres of pumpkins and 3 acres of sweet corn. The Taves are active in farmers’ markets where they sell their 100% Natural Apple Cider, plums, pears, gooseberries, currants, apples, tomatoes, miniature peppers and cucumbers, and eggplant. In 1990, Loren and his wife, Corinne Taves, created the Applebarn—a destination designed for ‘fall family’ fun.
For more information, visit www.tavesfamilyfarms.com