On a visit to B.C. last year, I lost my willpower after tasting the Dill-Icious dip at Linda Hale's Taste of the Okanagan booth in Kelowna. Once I began sampling her original cuisine creations it was hard not to taste them all.
Hale has a B.Sc. in Home Economics with a major in Chemistry. She says, "I began my business with my mother and grandmother's family favorites and today I present an aggressive product line that showcases the British Columbia harvest. I make over 65 products that are seasonally inspired and I work very closely with local growers who are constantly exploring new seed varieties and practising better environmental techniques. The Okanagan Valley is a burgeoning wine-producing area, frequently referred to as the'Napa of the North', and many of my products incorporate the abundant wine harvest from Estate Wineries in the area.
"Since 1995 I have been making jams, jellies and preserves with tender love and attention. They are made the old-fashioned way, by hand in small batches, so I can preserve the flavor, quality and most of the unique Taste of B.C. harvest.
"I buy my fruits, berries and veggies from small, local growers in B.C. who pick their harvest in season and ripe. This gives me a huge advantage over commercial food processors who buy their raw product from giant food distributors who pick green so the produce can travel. I work closely with Mother Nature and although she does a very fine job,she is not always consistent. My product inventory varies from season to season depending on weather conditions like rainfall, sunshine and heat.
"I use nothing artificial in my production, only natural ingredients. There are no preservatives, additives, artificial flavors or colors so the taste is home-grown. My entire production is taste handmade and the process is very much the same way our grandparents preserved the harvest in years gone by."
Taste of the Okanagan has creations such as a shooter salad dressing called Cranberry Jalapeno Vinaigrette, Roasted Garlic and Honey Sauce, Dry Herb Mixes, and Gourmet Apple Butter and Strawberry Margarita jams. Hale's chutneys come in apple, cranberry, mango, orchard and garlic flavors. She also makes many jellies such as Apple Jalapeno and Sangria Wine Jelly, plus several mustards, salsas and antipastos.
As a member of the board of directors Hale helps organize and produce Creative Chaos, the largest craft show in Western Canada. In 2004 she was the market co-ordinator for Cuisine Canada's National Convention held in Kelowna.
Hale's products have won many awards including red and blue ribbons at the Interior Provincial Exhibition in Armstrong. B.C.; Best Booth for the most visually attractive display at the VanDusen Garden Christmas Craft and Gift Market in Vancouver in 1997 and 1998; Best Specialty Food Booth award at the Uniquely B.C. Gift Show in Vancouver in 1991; and Runner Up for the best first-time exhibitor at the Canadian Made Exposition at the Edmonton Gift Show in 1992.
Hale markets her products at shows such as Creative Chaos in Vernon, B.C., several shows Edmonton such as Butterdome Craft Show, Festival of Crafts in Calgary, an and several Vancouver Island,in Red Deer, Grand Prairie and Calgary.
Visit her website at www.tasteoftheokanagan.com or call 250-491-9079
Joan Airey and her husband raise Charolais cattle near Rivers, Man.
56 Grayness February 20, 2006 • www.grainews.ca
