The widespread appreciation among participants, exhibitors, and vendors from last year’s successful Langley Eats Local has prompted the Langley Environmental Partners Society to host this year’s event at Driediger Farms.
The goal of the festival is to celebrate Langley’s vast agricultural land reserve and to encourage citizens of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to shop and eat from our region.
Langley Eats Local is a family-oriented day of fun featuring local music talent, face painting, community group exhibits, and artistic craftsmanship, and quality local foods. There will be a variety of fresh food samples and local products to purchase including produce, preserves, flowers, and pottery. One of many returnees, the Suburban Spoon, will be providing concession at the event from an entertainingly purple mobile kitchen.
LEPS will also have an interactive display of edible native plants courtesy of Cedar Rim Nursery.
The festival runs on Sunday, July 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Driediger Farms, 23823 72 Ave. Admission is free.
Last year, more than 1,200 people enjoyed picking berries in the U-pick fields and socializing in the open air market. Some came from as far away as Vancouver Island.
“Everyone who attended the event is already truly concerned with supporting food locally and knows where their food comes from,” said Bonnie Windsor, assistant plant manager at Johnston’s.
One attendee described their experience as a rare opportunity to both shop and eat locally amidst a family farming operation — a sentiment strongly echoed by Langley Eats Local returning vendors and exhibitors.
“LEPS hosts Langley Eats Local as a way to introduce citizens to local food providers, and to encourage the positive environmental impact that supporting local producers has on our global footprint, as well as the economic benefits of keeping our money local,” said Nichole Marples, LEPS executive director.
Langley Eats Local is made possible through funding provided by the Vancity Community Projects Grant and the Metro Vancouver Agriculture Awareness Grant.
Featured vendors and exhibitors include A Bread Affair Baguetterie, All Things Organic, Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm & Meadery, de la Bouche Specialty Foods, Edible Vancouver, Farm Folk City Folk, Frogs Not Included, Glorious Organics Cooperative, Johnston’s, Langley Demonstration Garden and Grow Healthy Grow Smart, LEPS, Langley Community Farmers Market, Langley Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Milner Valley Cheese, Old World Specimens, Pampered Chef, Salmon Safe BC and Suburban Spoon.