Our mini interview with Allison Landon, founder of Cowichan Valley based company Truffula, is an inspiring story of how challenging circumstances can not only be overcome, but can result in an incredible business and product line that otherwise may never have been realized. Truffula’s “foodie-worthy” cultured cashew cheeses are dairy-free, plant-based, certified organic and full of flavour without compromise.

We have a wonderful story to share with you this month that shows you how sometimes the most challenging problems can result in beautiful solutions. When Alia Sunderij was teaching a Sustainable Innovation class at Simon Fraser University, one of her students brought the issue of food waste to her attention. She learned that tons of BC produce was being discarded before it had a chance to reach consumers simply for cosmetic reasons. She decided to do something about it and created Luv the Grub, which rescues “ugly” produce before it would otherwise be tossed out, and transforms it into delicious gourmet chutneys and spreads. Read on for the other ways Luv the Grub is supporting their community!

Jed and Louise from Elderberry Grove Farm describe themselves as elderberry enthusiasts and it’s easy to see how that passion led them to create a thriving business based on these incredibly healthy and delicious berries. Elderberries are deeply nutritious and supportive to the immune system, which is extra helpful this time of year. We’re thrilled to carry Elderberry Farm’s juice, shrub, and syrup at Pomme and think that you’ll be an elderberry enthusiast too after hearing their story!

This mother and daughter duo know that good food is made even better with good spices and were fed up with the fillers found in many store-bought spice blends. So Mariam Anvarali Nichols, and her mother Masooma Anvarali, put together a curry spice blend from a generations-old family recipe, started selling it at their local Farmers Market, and from there, From the Earth Spices was born. Locally roasted and blended in Victoria, their spice blends have quickly become a culinary staple.