BCAITC is proud to introduce a new agriculture education resource – the Spotlight Series on Blueberries! This multi-faceted toolkit provides a selection of intermediate/secondary level downloadable blueberry farm-to-table educational resources. The launch of this toolkit coincides with the Take a Bite of BC delivery of blueberries (and other BC grown ingredients) into 59 BC schools with Culinary Arts programs this month.

The provision of blueberries to the Take a Bite of BC classrooms this October is thanks to the generous donation from Silver Valley Farms, one of North America's largest blueberry growers, buyers, and distributors. This month’s Take a Bite of BC delivery also includes:

• Red Cabbage and Yellow Potatoes (courtesy of BCfresh)
• Cranberries (courtesy of Ocean Spray of Canada Ltd.)
• Mini Peppers and Grape Tomatoes (courtesy of Windset Farms)

BCAITC’s Take a Bite of BC program, growing year-over-year, now impacts, 7,149 grade 11 and 12 Culinary Arts students and also helps influence an additional 65,000 students to eat locally grown dishes on a regular basis in school cafeterias. Public and First Nations schools in urban, suburban, and rural regions throughout the province are participating in Take a Bite of BC. New schools joining the program this year include Gudangaay Tlaats'gaa Naay Secondary in Masset and Johnston Heights Secondary and Fleetwood Park Secondary in Surrey. Take a Bite of BC classrooms, Home Economics classrooms, and homeschools (plus anyone interested in food and farming) can use the Spotlight on Blueberries tools to learn about blueberries.

Spotlight on Blueberries

The toolkit includes the following resources:

• Video: Students can learn about blueberry farming in a 10-minute educational video featuring the passionate team at Silver Valley Farms.
• Activity: The curriculum-linked 'A Race Around the Blueberry Bush' game and corresponding lesson plan teach students more about the blueberry farm story.
• Recipes: Students can practise their culinary skills while making delicious blueberry recipes created by BCAITC’s Chef Trevor Randle such as Baked Lemon Pudding with BC Blueberry Compote and BC Blueberry Strudel (pictured below), and BC Berry Crepes with Vanilla Cream.
• Grow BC: Students can explore Grow BC, an interactive GIS map and story resource, to learn about BC blueberries. This resource provides straightforward integration into class curriculum.

Pat Tonn, BCAITC’s Executive Director, said, “With over 150 million pounds of blueberries harvested annually in BC, this berry is one of our province’s major agriculture commodities. This toolkit provides students with e knowledge of how blueberries are grown and distributed while they cook with this wholesome food. They learn about the importance of agriculture in our society and about food choices, food safety, and food security.” Tonn continued, “Thank you to all our partners who support Take a Bite of BC and help to bring our Spotlight Series to life.”

Maple Ridge Secondary Chef Instructor and BCAITC Chef Trevor Randle said, “I’m looking forward to using the Spotlight Series to teach Culinary Arts students at Maple Ridge Secondary about blueberries.” Randle continued, “I’m also excited to present the Spotlight Series to Culinary Instructors at the upcoming Culinary Art Specialist Association Pro-D Day Conference on October 22. This will allow teachers to learn about these resources and how to incorporate them into their day-to-day instruction.”

The new Spotlight Series on Blueberries compliments the existing Spotlight Series on Pork, Duck, Eggs, Cranberries, and Apples.  Find the full series here. 

*Bee photo credit Carolyn Teasdale. Blueberry photos credit Spring Advertising.