The Valley Food and Farm Collective has received a donation of $15,750 from Heinrichs Developments.
Kathleen Robinson, executive director of the collective, said the donation will go towards initiatives that bring local food to the table of families “to create a more defined food culture in the Fraser Valley.”
The money will also support the collective’s farmers’ market, which runs every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at 2518 West Railway St.
Heinrichs Developments has been a big supporter of the Valley Food and Farm Collective since its start last year.
The collective works with community members to create a working network of farmers/producers and local restaurateurs, as well as educating people in the food industry and beyond about the subject.
Heinrichs Developments – led by Gerald Heinrichs – has built homes that range from single-family residences to multi-storey buildings.
However, the fruits of their labour reach past the urban sprawl of Abbotsford’s rapidly developing cityscape and into the surrounding farmlands as well.
“Gerald grew up in Yarrow, and his family has always been involved with farming,” says Andrew Heinrichs, development manager of Heinrichs Developments and Gerald’s nephew.
“Currently, he and his brother still own and operate the family farm.”
Gerald moved into the construction industry in his younger years, starting as a framer, and built the Heinrichs organization from the ground up.
Both Gerald and Heinrichs Developments have backed the collective’s market since its first season.
“It’s incredible to see organizations like Heinrichs Developments, who are not just about financially supporting the farming community, but are actively involved in it,” Robinson said.
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