There's been such amazing innovation in plant-based foods over recent years, and we're so lucky to have tons of it happening in our own backyard. Vancouver-based TMRW Foods makes awesome, grill-ready, plant-based burgers as well as a super versatile mince that can be used for anything from lasagne to tacos to meatballs! And they are sooo tasty. TMRW Foods’ approach to plant-based meats is focussed on crafting "satisfying and nutritionally optimal products that are made from as many whole foods as possible", while centring the well-being of their employees, communities, and the environment. Sustainability is a big part of their business model. As we move into summer—otherwise known as ‘barbeque season!’—we’re excited to have company founder and Dean Blignaut answer our latest Meet The Maker Mini Interview questions!

It’s been amazing to see so many incredibly healthy, delicious products for specialized diets come to market over recent years, and Okanagan Rawsome has been some of the pack leaders. Crisp creator and company founder Afke Zonderland started developing her raw, sprouted, gluten-free crisps in 2008 and over the past decade, working with her daughter Ana, Afke has maintained her commitment to sourcing the organic produce used in her crisps from her own and local farms, to help support her community socially, economically, and environmentally.

This month our Meet The Maker Interview is with Lovena Harvey, the CEO of Gathering Place Trading, an incredible direct fair trade, BC-based, family run importer who sources products grown with sustainable earth-friendly practices. Lovena works primarily from home on Cortes Island, where her home office overlooks the garden. Their warehouse and packaging facilities are located in downtown Campbell River on Vancouver Island, and they have an incredible team of intentional staff who hand package each and every product they produce.

We might be in the middle of the most epic soup season BC has ever seen! One of the best ways to counter endless rainy grey days is a beautiful warm bowl of soup full of premium, locally sourced ingredients—and kitskitchen offers us lucky west-coasters exactly that. Their fabulous soups are also wheat free, dairy free, and additive/preservative-free! Co-founder and CEO Joni Lind has answered our Meet The Maker Mini Interview questions this month, so you can get to know the lovely local humans behind that delicious bowl keeping your spirits lifted and your body nourished.

There is definitely something kind of magical about chocolate making, especially at this time of year. And especially when you know it’s being created with true passion and truly high ethical standards. Helen and Glen moved into BC’s Rocky Mountains to follow not only a dream but a sense of responsibility. With Wild Mountain Chocolate, they create chocolate bars that inspire people with both their amazing flavour and their positive social impact. Helen has answered our Mini Interview questions so you can learn more about the Wild Mountain Chocolate project!