Norm Letnick says the Green Party hasen鈥檛 been talking to actual farmers about agriculture.

Green Party leader Andrew Weaver dropped into the Okanagan for a two day visit and for his handling of agriculture.

But Letnick came out swinging Wednesday, saying Weaver didn鈥檛 reference the facts, before heading back to Vancouver Island to shore up support for his flagging campaign back home.

鈥淢r. Weaver should be forgiven for not understanding the issues in the Okanagan. Unfortunately, that鈥檚 what happens when you only talk to the media rather than the people you are supposed to be serving,鈥� said Letnick, BC Liberal candidate for 琉璃神社-Lake Country.

As the BC election campaign continued and with Liberal leader , Letnick sent out a press release quoting farmers who support him.

鈥淣orm has supported our farming community,鈥� said Phil Patara, president of the Okanagan Sikh Temple. 鈥淔armers have been very happy with Norm as our agriculture minister.鈥�

Letnick said the agriculture industry has grown during his time as minister with the industry responsible for some 63,000 jobs.

鈥淭hanks to Norm we have a new farmers donation tax credit helping farmers and food banks and school meal programs,鈥� said Domenic Rampone, family farmer and 40-year 琉璃神社 resident. 鈥淲e have the new grow local program helping British Columbians grow their own food. And Norm is leading the country in the discussion on food supply security.鈥�

If elected, Letnick says he will continue to advocate for local farmers and ranchers as well as the agriculture industry province-wide.

鈥淲e have set ambitious targets of getting an additional 91,000 hectares into agri-production, reaching $15 billion in sales by 2020,鈥� said Letnick. 鈥淟ocally we have seen the power in Team Okanagan and agriculture with the strongly funded tree fruit replant program and wine in grocery stores which have helped to increase wine sales overall and returns to grape growers.鈥�

As minister of agriculture Letnick says he helped pass legislation that will put an end to puppy mills in B.C. and has worked closely with the BC SPCA

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me to elect people that are going to be supportive of the different ventures and evolution of business,鈥� said Ria Kitsch, lifelong 琉璃神社 resident and co-founder of locally-owned Kitsch Wines.