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鈥檚 fruit and vegetables, not everyone has access.

So the Capital News is going to bring these farmers to you, letting you see who鈥檚 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 琉璃神社 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.

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do it anymore,鈥� said Lorena.

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

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a very big learning curve,鈥� said Lorena. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been interesting finding out how it all fits together. We鈥檝e been very happy to put safe, healthy food into the community.鈥�

Lorena is also a big advocate for getting organic certification鈥攕omething that not all farmers do, despite calling themselves organic.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to be certified,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the consumer鈥檚 guarantee that the food is safe for them and the environment鈥� they鈥檙e paying for healthy food and knowing they paid for the process.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 love coming to the markets and meeting all the people,鈥� she said.