A new award event will celebrate local B.C. farmers and food producers this summer.
The We Heart Local Awards will run from July 1 to August 5. B.C. residents will be able to nominate their favourite local growers in a popular choice-style contest.
Voters can visit www.facebook.com/buylocaleatnatural to cast their ballot in categories such as favourite farmers market, cheese maker, meat or poultry supplier or brewery.
"The We Heart Local Awards will leverage this momentum in British Columbia and get people even more invested in lifting up their local favourites and sharing information with one another," said Rhonda Driediger, chair of the BC Agriculture Council.
The initiative is a partnership between the BC Agriculture Council, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the BC Association of Farmers Markets, the Vancouver Farmers Markets, LOCO BC and The Georgia Straight.
