Eating local with ease

— Photo courtesy Jen Barclay

In recent years, issues of environmental damage due to cattle farms and transport of meats, growth hormones in foods and animal welfare have all come into the spotlight. More people, including Nelson’s Jen Barclay, are taking an interest in how meats get from a farm to their table.

“As I learned more and more about what was involved in the current industrialization of food . . . I was no longer willing to eat the meat found in most supermarkets,” said Barclay. “At the same time, I discovered how much meat was available from the Creston Valley.”

In her drive to bring locally-sourced beef to Nelson residents, Barclay has founded Fattoria Local Foods. Beef comes from farmers in the nearby Creston Valley, following the principles of the Hundred Mile Diet. Sides are sold in 11.4 (25-pound) kilogram allotments, an amount suitable for residential freezers, for $140. The packages contain a variety of cuts, as one of the goals of Fattoria is to reduce waste. Barclay will be educating people about cooking with unusual cuts through Fattoria’s Facebook page and her website, which should be up and running soon.

To learn more about Fattoria Local foods, go to its Facebook page or call 250-505-7765.