It’s great to see the Mountain Market flourish this year, and next week’s will hit high gear to coincide with Farmers Appreciation Week — July 31 to Aug. 6 — a province-wide celebration of our food growers.
Class act musicians Shera Kelly and Julia Spitale from Vancouver will hold court on Thursday afternoon, July 28, as they tour Canada in support of local, organic food.
As they perform at farms, markets, and house concerts across B.C. and beyond, “we are trying to create more exposure for sustainable farming practices,” Kelly told the Rossland News.
The pair are bringing along a documentary filmmaker to capture the places they visit and the people they meet, blending their vision for a better world with clear vocals, clever lyrics, and upbeat arrangements.
“We are looking forward to playing in Rossland,” Kelly said, “It’s such a beautiful town.”
“We’re amped!” said market co-ordinator Rachael Roussin. “Shopping at farmers markets supports local farmers directly, which helps improve food security in our region and gives our communities access to safe and healthy food.”
Only 1.5 per cent of British Columbians farm, but they produce almost half of all the food the province consumes. “British Columbians depend on B.C. farmers and B.C. farmland,” the B.C. Farmers Market Association writes.
“It is wonderful that these musicians are traveling around to draw attention to this very worthy cause,” Roussin said.
The musicians are not paid, so the market encourages patrons to show their appreciation with toonies and loonies in the musicians’ hat. Check out Kelly’s music at www.sherakelly.com and Spitale’s at www.myspace.com/jspitale.