VICTORIA — Chef Ned Bell, author of Lure: Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the West Coast, and partner, general manager and executive chef of Naramata Inn, has been appointed as Buy B.C. Chef Ambassador.
First launched in the ’90s, Buy B.C. makes it easy for consumers to identify local ingredients and products by the presence of the Buy B.C. logo. The program was re-established by the provincial government in 2018 and is led by Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lana Popham. As chef ambassador, Bell will work alongside the team to promote the importance of buying local; to support ongoing farmer, producer and chef relations; and to act as a hyper-local Buy B.C. advocate for all members of the province.
“When we buy local ingredients and products, we celebrate nutritious meals grown in our own backyard, and support local farmers and producers, communities and the environment at the same time,” says Bell. “Food grown and raised in B.C. is picked at peak freshness. That means shorter travel time from farms to tables, which in turn creates fresher and tastier food and a reduced carbon footprint, all while maintaining farmland and green space in communities.”
