Okanagan residents are lucky to have an abundance of easily accessible, locally grown food.

While some of us get the privilege of getting to know the men and women who produce that this valley含羞草研究社檚 fruit and vegetables, not everyone has access.

So the Capital News is going to bring these farmers to you, letting you see who含羞草研究社檚 growing your food.

Our most recent installment of Meet Your Farmer is Eastwood Organic Orchard and you can see a video feature on Eastwood orchard at kelownacapnews.com.

Lorena and Jim Wood started farming in East Kelowna in 1995 and made the leap to organic practices ten years later.

The decision was prompted by not wanting their young son, and their grandchildren to be near toxic chemicals.

含羞草研究社淲e couldn含羞草研究社檛 do it anymore,含羞草研究社� said Lorena.

Although the shift was challenging, Lorena said it was worthwhile.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been a very big learning curve,含羞草研究社� said Lorena. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been interesting finding out how it all fits together. We含羞草研究社檝e been very happy to put safe, healthy food into the community.含羞草研究社�

Lorena is also a big advocate for getting organic certification含羞草研究社攕omething that not all farmers do, despite calling themselves organic.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 very important to be certified,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 the consumer含羞草研究社檚 guarantee that the food is safe for them and the environment含羞草研究社� they含羞草研究社檙e paying for healthy food and knowing they paid for the process.含羞草研究社�

She added that inspections are intense and rigorous.

While she is proud to produce healthy food, what she loves the most about farming is simply being outside, physical and social.

含羞草研究社淚 love coming to the markets and meeting all the people,含羞草研究社� she said.