November 1, 2019
Heart Beet Organics expand from the farm to new storefront in Charlottetown with kombucha on tap and produce to go Stepping into Farmacy + Fermentary on Great George Street in Charlottetown, the cosy atmosphere entices you to pull up a stool and order a drink at the bar but be prepared, the latest watering hole to open in PEI’s capital…
June 1, 2018
What does ‘Certified Organic’ mean? On PEI, ‘certified organic’ means food grown on a farm according to specific organic practices as defined by the Canadian Organic Standards and regulated nationally by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Each farm is inspected annually by a qualified third party inspector and each inspected farm is issued a certificate. General principles of organic…
(In case you missed it) Heart Beet Organics was honoured with the Gilbert R. Clements award for Excellence in Environmental Farm Planning at the PEIFA 77th AGM. Dairy farmers Allan & Coleen MacQuarrie, of MacTalla Farms, Bonshaw, PEI, were awarded the prestigious Master Breeder award by Holstein Canada. The only Maritimers to receive the award this year, they competed against…
November 1, 2017
Fermentation parties offer value for all involved On the Monday in early October when I visit Heart Beet Organics in Darlington, it’s a drab, overcast day complete with a biting cold wind. The weather, however, has done nothing to dampen the spirits of Heart Beet’s friendly farming duo, Amy Smith and Verena Varga, or the six women and one man…
August 1, 2017
On July 6, 2017, six of SALTY’s team took part in a media farm tour organized by PEI Certified Organic Producer Co-operative (COPC). Along with other members of the media, government, food industry, and Maritime farming community we toured five organic farms in central PEI. We learned many interesting facts along the way. Here are my top 11: 11. Typical…
March 1, 2017
Heart Beet Organics introducing many Islanders to ancient fermented tea beverage I have arrived at the epicentre of the Island’s kombucha revolution, located at Heart Beet Organics in Darlington, PEI. The women behind the operation, Verena Varga and Amy Smith, have invited me to their cozy farmstead to learn more about their latest fermentation endeavours. As Varga serves me a…
January 1, 2017
Island farmers and fishers are sharing their stories through social media, and people are eating it up What if today’s youth were inspired to consider a career in farming or fishing because today’s innovative farmers are sharing their experiences and livelihoods with the world in all their visual glory? A breathtaking view of an Island sunrise on the water, the…