The 100-Mile Diet is a popular way of eating that focuses on locally-sourced products and ingredients grown and produced within 100 miles of your home. Based on the book The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating by Canadians Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, this “local omnivore” lifestyle focuses on farm-to-table eating, building relationships with farmers and producers, and embracing the health, wellness, and environmental benefits of consuming regional foods.
Hallmarks of the 100 Mile Diet:
- Locally-grown produce
- Locally-raised meat and poultry
- Sustainably caught fish and shellfish
- Locally-produced cheeses and other dairy products
- Locally-produced wine, beer, and spirits
- Preference for organic produce and grass-fed and pastured animals
- Building relationships directly with farmers and food producers
Since the 100-Mile Diet focuses on locally-sourced products, it is most achievable when you can locate a variety of products in every season. But what can we do in the winter?
While our farmstore is closed during the winter, there are year-round Farmers Markets which can help you access local food. Ones close by in the Okanagan Valley include the Kelowna (inside the Parkinson Rec Centre) and Armstrong markets. They offer vegetables and herbs grown in greenhouses.
Produce Boxes (try Farmbound in Vernon) is another way to maintain a locally-sourced lifestyle during the winter months. The Real Canadian Superstores in Kelowna and Kamloops are working hard to buy local.
Practicing the 100-Mile Diet during winter can be challenging, particularly in a cold northern climate like Canada – but it’s a great time to try! You can focus on local vegetables, meats, cheeses, and wines and treat yourself to delectable, imported fruit on the side!
The team at Don-O-Ray Farms look forward to being your favourite local food provider starting in May 2022. Maintaining solid relationships with producers in the Okanagan Valley allows Don-O-Ray Farms to offer a wide selection of locally-sourced goods through their online store and offer convenient delivery direct to your home. In the meantime, don’t forget to shop at our Online Store! After placing your online order, contact us today to arrange your order for pickup.
Watch for our Store Re-Opening in May 2022
We love The 100-Mile Diet idea, as it is an ideal way to support your local economy and the broader community. Add a weekly visit to Don-O-Ray Farms starting in May 2022 and let us show you the delicious bounty of the Okanagan region! Supporting your regional farm community is what the 100-Mile Diet is all about. Our Online shop is available year-round for hot sauces, butter chicken sauce, jams and baked goods!