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Lake Country’s Gatzke Orchard presents REGGAE NIGHTS! July 27th

Oyama, British Columbia – June2/2014 – Gatzke Orchard presents GO FOODISM! Join Canadian/Jamaican Chef Cornel Fisher for an outdoor roaming 4-course meal on an orchard by the lake. REGGAE NIGHTS! Featuring Caribbean flavours, storytelling & songs spiced up with local farm ingredients with wine tastings by Arrowleaf Cellars.

“Cornel has been connected to the Gatzke Orchard for over a decade,” says Al Gatzke. “It’s a great moment to have him take part in our GO FOODISM! series after hearing me talk about it all these years. Cornel brings a great energy to all our events, REGGAE NIGHTS will be very special for sure.”

Gatzke Orchard just hosted their Woodstock Revival music festival for the third year where Cornel Fisher was a prominent groovy talent on the scene.

“I love working with the Gatzke Family,” says Fisher. “Their orchard is a very special place in the Okanagan Valley and I continue to create more amazing memories each year. This year Woodstock this year was incredible, not only for all the happy hungry people, but for the music as I was able to perform with my seven year old son Benjamin Moon. An unforgettable experience.”

“Cornel has also been our pizza chef heating up our clay wood burning oven, “GAIA”, on “Feel Good Fridays,” at our weddings and music events,” says Joseph Pinheiro, Event Manager. “I’ve watched him create beautiful gourmet pizza’s then jump on stage for a set and return to a lineup 20 deep of new pizza/music fans. Even at our weddings he adds an extra element of entertainment and authenticity to peoples Okanagan experience on our orchard.

“I can’t wait until July 27th so I can cook and sing for you,” says Fisher. “I’m looking forward to sharing the stories and flavours of some of my favourite Jamaican recipes. It’s going to be a jammin’ good time.”

Tickets for the GO FOODISM! series available at gatzkeorchard.com

A total of six orchard dinners featuring a diverse group of BC’s finest chefs will take over the orchard this summer. Cornel Fisher is the third chef featured in the Gatzke Orchard outdoor, roaming dinner series, taking place on the last Sunday from May through to September.

Before dinner, guests will explore the property alongside those who raised their dinner and harvest some of the bounty nurtured according to the FLOS mentality. The Fresh Local Organic Seasonal mentality is prioritized in that order and uses local farms to help grow community. Gatzke’s creates a food and beverage service that educates people about the connection between food, nature and agriculture.

Nestled in Lake Country in the Central Okanagan Valley, the Gatzke family has been proudly farming in Oyama, B.C. since 1929. Gatzke Orchard currently grows over 50 varieties of tree fruit throughout the season. It is grown the most natural and sustainable way, which guarantee premium quality of the fruit & vegetables.

Gatzke Orchard is a 3rd generation family owned and operated farm, steeped in agricultural history. Leo’s grandson Alan, his wife Ingrid and their two daughters continue to maintain the family operation and the legacy that Leo started 80 years ago.

Woodstock Revival III

Oyama, British Columbia – June 9/2014 – In a technicolor sea of tie dye and bell bottoms, love is in the air and so is the scent of patchouli, or is that sage? For the third year in a row, Gatzke Orchards in Oyama will be hosting one of the hippest and grooviest festivals in the Okanagan.

Woodstock Revival III takes place July 4, 5, 6 at Gatzke Orchards, a third generation family-owned and operated orchard in Lake Country.

“For me, our Woodstock Revival is an opportunity to celebrate the little hippy in all of us and all that was good in the late 60s and 70s,” says Al Gatzke. “It’s about a time of innocence and love without the rush, rush, go, go pace of today. It gives me pleasure to revisit my youth once every summer by opening up the farm and sharing experiences with others about those groovy times.”

The setting is idyllic. Double lakeside to both Kalamalka and Wood Lakes. Now with the Pelmewash Parkway open, the little town of Oyama has turned into the hidden jewel of the Okanagan. Guests can camp onsite and enjoy some tasty local food and beverages while checking out some great live music.

Some confirmed artists include JASON BUIE, POPPA DAWG, SABRINA WEEKS, KATHY FRANK, ELLIE JOHNSON, SUGARBUD, LINDA SUE WILSON, DAN ENGLLAND and the SOS HOUSE BAND. Producers are working on some more additions to be announced soon..

“The orchard, music and the people are what makes the Woodstock Revival so special,” says Joe Pinheiro, Event Manager at Gatzke, “Last year I met a lady who missed the original Woodstock in ’69 because she went into labour. Now here she was with her daughter at our Woodstock having the time of her life. It was such a great experience.”

After the success of Woodstock II and the overwhelming enthusiasm from everyone, producers met and started some early planning to return in 2014.

“When I attended the Woodstock Revival at Gatzke Orchards last summer, 2013, it was an event like no other I had attended in many years,” says returning Woodstocker Jody Postma. “For me, it was a complete immersion into the innocent past. No chaos…. it was groovy. It was peace and love. That simple. I left knowing I would be back to replenish my soul with the spirit of Gatzke Orchards Woodstock Revival.”

Tickets are $60 for a three-day pass and $25 for a day pass, available at Gatzke Orchards located on Pelmewash Parkway in Oyama, Lake Country, between Vernon and Kelowna. There is some camping and RV spots still available for the event. This is an all ages event with activities planned for the kids.

More information is available at gatzkeorchard

Gatzke Orchard presents GO FOODISM! Join award winning Chef Chris Van Hooydonk, Proprietor of Artisan Culinary Concepts for LOCALVORE! Featuring a creative meal inspired by the efforts of the local quality farmers and producers with wine tastings by Burrowing Owl Winery.

“Chris and I share a commitment to growing the local food community and we are excited to have him kick off our GO FOODISM! series this summer,” says Al Gatzke. “I’m also looking forward to an amazing dinner that night too!”

Chris Van Hooydonk is the first chef featured in the Gatzke Orchard outdoor, roaming dinner series, taking place on the last Sunday from May through to September. Chris’ passion not only for cooking but for growing food, made him the a great choice to launch GO FOODISM!

“I am excited to be hosted by Alan Gatzke for this event,” says Van Hooydonk, “as we both share the same philosophies in food culture. From the very first conversation I was certain we should work on a project together. He is very much a visionary mind, making quality his priority while investing time in sharing his love of farming with his staff, colleagues and community. It is a visionary mind such as his that will help continue to evolve our Okanagan Food system.”

Guests are in for a treat this summer as this unique culinary series showcases highly skilled local chefs creating an interactive and educational experience culminating with signature meals with farmers and chefs.

“To me, eating well means to enjoy a meal with great company, prepared with ingredients seasonally and locally sourced-being grown with the same passion and dedication to quality,” says Van Hooydonk. “Thoughtfully grown and prepared food always has a story, and it is my motivation for cooking-sharing my passion for food with our guests, and telling the story of the dedicated farmers, producers and wines. The foundation for healthy, sustainable eating is supporting the local growers and producers, creating meals around the seasonal bounty.”

Before dinner, guests will explore the property alongside those who raised their dinner and harvest some of the bounty nurtured according to the FLOS mentality. The Fresh Local Organic Seasonal mentality is prioritized in that order and uses local farms to help grow community. Gatzke’s creates a food and beverage service that educates people about the connection between food, nature and agriculture.

Tickets for the GO FOODISM! series available at gatzkeorchard.com

Go Juice! – Gatzke Orchard’s Apple Juice for sale.

If you’re like us, you might be daydreaming of summer already. To help you through those winter months take a piece of Gatzke Orchards home with you today. Check out this year’s GO JUICE – Gatzke Orchard Apple Juice made from our delicious apples right here on our orchard in Oyama, BC.

Head on down to Oyama General Store on the isthmus and get some while they last!

Our 2013 Apple Juice – “Late Harvest Liquid Gold,” “Xtra Sweet” & “Dry.”