In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.
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What is your name?
Afke Zonderland
What do you always find yourself saying?
Let’s eat!
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Charlotte Gerson. She dedicated her life to teaching people about healing the body with food
If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
The Farm Foody Chef award.
If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Nelson Mandela. How he suffered supreme injustice and talked a message of reconciliation, hope and forgiveness to heal the wounded soul of his country.
Who inspires you?
Kris Carr.
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What are three things on your bucket list?
A canoe trip up North during ice berg calving time.
A mountain bike trip in Provence (France) in the spring.
African Safari
If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Not going to happen even in my dreams. I don’t like the ocean much.
If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
What about today?
What are you passionate about?
To be and teach self-reliance. Following the three simple steps.
1 Be debt free, have less stuff.
2. Grow your own food
3. Play outdoors on bare feet.
What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
The birth of our first born child.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
To maintain my sense of grace under difficult circumstances
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Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Summerhill Pyramid Estate bistro. I like the pure clean food that is beautifully presented by Chef Croy and his team.
What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Biking the Kettle Valley Trestles. Its history and phenomenal re-build after the fires add to the views and the sure signs of nature recovering.
What is the name of your business/organization?
Okanagan Rawsome Natural Foods Inc. We resource our base ingredients (apples and carrots) from local organic farms. We understand the power of living foods so the awakening of dormant protein rich nuts and seeds is achieved by the process of soaking and germinating. This process greatly increases digestibility so that all these wonderful qualities can be absorbed on the cellular level, where healing or disease begins. This mix of quality ingredients is than made into a spread that is dehydrated at low temperatures. We hope that our tasty Rawsome Crisps will inspire people to choose healthier “earth-friendly” food options.
What does your business/organization do?
We fabricate gourmet dehydrated food from pure organic Okanagan apples and carrots.
Where can people find you or your business online?
www.okanaganrawsome.ca
Where can people find your business on Facebook?
okanaganrawsome
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What is your mission?
We love supporting the food growers in our community and turn a possible waste into pure power food that travels lightly, digest beautifully, and nourishes young and old, athlete and student.
If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To create awareness that all the food you consume becomes you. That every thought you think defines you that every action you take becomes your future.
Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
Our brand is recognized as one of the most valuable source of nutrition in Canada
Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Brendan Brazie, who is an ultramarathon runner and author
Mathew Kenney, Raw Chef and teacher.
Cherie Soria, Raw Chef and founder of Living Light culinary Arts Institute.
What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Integrity of all ingredients.
Contributing to people’s health.
Maintaining a healthy balance of fun, hard work, service and profit
What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Thank you. We cannot do this without your dedication.
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How does your business/organization impact the community?
We volunteer at and sponsor some events.
If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
How to influence positive change in law and governmental systems.
How to change the food distribution and how to change the way we raise animals that are meant for slaughter. Support food growers that maintain sustainable soil enriching farm practices with tax incentives. Why do organic farmers who follow ancient practices that sustain soil and mankind have to prove this and carry the burden of administrative cost, while the 60 year old practice of conventional farming in its infancy really, has been allowed to include disease producing chemicals and antibiotics in our food chain?
If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
We live in the North Okanagan and don’t spend that much time in Kelowna. But the traffic does get quite bad during rush hours.
What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The Lake, the mountains, the orchards and a wonderful seasonal climate.
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Life is good. I have said it all… I think.
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We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!