Garlic may be associated with bad breath, but for the staff and owners of Hester Creek in Oliver, it tastes like sweet success.
The winery hosted its second annual Garlic Festival on October 5. The festival drew an estimated 1,400 people and raised approximately $2,300 for the Oliver Elementary School Farm-to-Table lunch program, which supplies lunch to the school twice a week for most of the year, even if finances are a struggle.
Hester Creek made a donation of $11,000 for the 2012/2013 school year and will continue with another donation of $11,000 for the 2013/2014 year. Last year’s festival saw over 1,200 visitors and collected an additional $2,200 for the program.
The family-friendly festival included demonstrations and samplings with local garlic growers, artisan crafters, food carts and live entertainment. Organizers said they were thrilled with the turnout.
