What a great site and great resource. As a consumer, I am floored by what is around us. I am thrilled to announce that the Westlock Inn in Westlock, AB, with the addition and commitment of Chef Alex Arbaut, is vearing towards featuring regional products and produce from the incredible selection around us.
Special thanks to Kickin Ash and Walking Tall Farms for the great tours and the selection of samples we brought back with us.
Of course the challenge is balancing the premium quality of products with pricing our guests are willing to pay. I look forward to meeting our local producers in the next couple of months. With products that will feature Alberta's best.
--Marc Haine
<http://www.westlockinn.com>

Good Luck with the new blog D&J

As we all get ready for a new summer season, we hope that all the members of the AFFPA have a successful year. Thanks for contributing towards the sustainability of family farms.


Medicine Hat Meat Traders Ltd.
--Greg
<mailto:sales@mhmt.ca>

Thanks for the posts! Marc, we look forward to hearing from you in the future. Please call us if there is anything we can do for you.

Greg...we also thank you for the post. Welcome to AFFPA and all the best in the coming season. Keep in touch!
--Joan

Hi Don and Joan

Wow AFFPA is getting really high tech modern with a blog and all GREAT JOB guys. The site looks great! I hope everyone has a wonderful 2008 season, I'm really excited to offer vegetables this year and who knows, if the test orchard works out we might even have grapes for upick, in the coming seasons. Keep up the good work guys, I am proud to be part AFFPA.
--Barb Van Ee
<mailto:info@vaneedenupick.com>

Thanks Barb, we are glad you like the site and blog. It's always fun to see a website grow, especially this one. We greatly admire our members and will be anxious to hear about your success with vegetables this year. The demand for your local food products increases by the day! Keeps us informed...and especially about the grapes!
Joan and Don

The site looks great, but I suppose I have to leave a comment instead of asking a general question in a single blog. I would like to know if anyone has an ORGANIC solution to the powdery mildew that is attacking my crops each year.
--Roy&#39;s Raspberries
<mailto:roysrasp@netscape.ca>

Interesting to say the least...however, I only have one qustion...
How do you know restaurants are using 70% and who checks up to see if they are true to their words...oh ya, they put it on their menu...as a person with over 40 years in the business, I can tell you what you order off the menu ...is not always what you get...
But that is my two cents...
--A Chef
<mailto:pastachef2@hotmail.com>

what do the item # 29, 32, 33 at the end of the farm listing mean?

I attend the Berry and Vegetable school last week and even though the roads were very icy on Thurs, I was very glad I attended. I enjoyed listening to growers and the pride that they had in their crops and products. I will be starting this year trying many things to find my niche. I learned lots. Thank you to all the producers that spoke and shared their experiences and hints.
I order 4 different types of pumpkins seeds. Anyone out there got a favourite?
--Conny Kappler
<mailto:cornelia.62@hotmail.com>

I attend the Berry and Vegetable school last week and even though the roads were very icy on Thurs, I was very glad I attended. I enjoyed listening to growers and the pride that they had in their crops and products. I will be starting this year trying many things to find my niche. I learned lots. Thank you to all the producers that spoke and shared their experiences and hints.
I order 4 different types of pumpkins seeds. Anyone out there got a favourite?
--Conny Kappler
<mailto:cornelia.62@hotmail.com>

April 4, 2009- AFFPA President Jim Hill, member Doris Sinclair, Joan and I put on a presentation on Farm Direct Marketing to a very enthusiastic group at Easyford hall near Drayton Valley. This workshop was part of an intiative by Brazeau County Ag Service Board called the 100 Km Kitchen Party (www.brazeau.ab.ca). Check it out...its an idea that could be used anywhere in Alberta. Kudos to Brazeau for this effort.

Joan and I were quite impressed with the Drayton countryside, such a difference from our flat grainland country around Camrose. We would love to be able to walk through some of that forested countryside with our cameras. Quite an opportunity for anyone who owns property like that....

We had a great time yesterday and wish all of yesterdays group success in their ventures.
Thanks to Kelly Starling for inviting us.

And to all our members across Alberta,have a great season.

Think Spring!


--Don
<mailto:dgregorwich@syban.net>

A quick update on spring planting...the cool spring has delayed seed growth and in some cases, planting. Kinda tough to plant when it is snowing as in the last couple days when parts of Alberta had 8 to 10 inches of snow.
For those folks wanting to pick strawberries, you have to be patient until well into June (if we're lucky)...and please send some warm weather and nice spring rains.
--DG

I am looking to buy 30-40 strawberry plants in the Whitecourt / Edmonton area or by mail, can anyone suggest where to get them from?
The greenhouses are cleared out for the year. I would like to plant at our new house this year.


--Sheila
<mailto:wsb2@eastlink.ca>