Tasty touring on two wheels

Trying to grasp where our food comes from, and how far it’s travelled to get here can be an onerous task for the wannabe locavore.

Take the arithmetic out of your ethical eating on the fourth annual Slow Food Cycle Tour August 21 in Harrison Hot Springs.

Building on the “buy local eat local” movement of the Circle Farm Tour, the Agassiz and Harrison Mills Slow Food Cycle connects visitors with the local agricultural community amid the picturesque backdrop of the region’s coastal mountains. Cycle along pastoral country roads, hopping from handmade artisan cheese shop, to lush organic hazelnut orchards and hillside herb farms. Each stop features special events, guided tours, and taste plates to sample, as well as fresh produce, cheeses, and other locally produced food products to take home.

New for 2010, the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre was added to the map. This world-class research facility and working dairy farm set amidst the stunning Cascades will give visitors an overview of the facility’s research focusing on improved animal welfare and helping to develop sustainable food production systems.

Another highlight this year, Sts’ailes Tourism and Chief Willie Charlie and family welcome guests to the Charlie Long House where the tour ends Saturday evening with a Chehalis Traditional Salmon Feast — a rare opportunity to learn more about the culture, land and history of the Chehalis community.

Meet the farmers, learn about local production, and sample some wonderful food in one of the most productive agricultural regions in Canada.

For information on the Slow Food Cycle Tour visit www.slowfoodvancouver. com/index.php/AgassizTour/.

For information on Harrison Hot Springs visit Tourism Harrison online at www. tourismharrison.com.