iN VIDEO: Kelowna’s Fresh Start forced to close because of pandemic

Kelowna's Start Fresh Kitchen is the latest casualty of the pandemic and public health restrictions. 

Owner and chef Michael Buffett said in an emotional video statement that 2020 was poised to be their best year ever.

"The reality is that without certainty of society returning to normal, Start Fresh simply can't continue in business," he said through tears. 

The Start Fresh team primarily catered events through its open kitchen in the Landmark District, where other chefs could also use the facilities as well as hosting cooking classes. It was also primarily responsible for a unique program to give homeless people a fresh start with six months of training to work on a local farm.

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Buffett said he and his team tried to pivot through the pandemic to online classes and grocery delivery of fresh produce from other partners but just couldn't make a go of it. 

"At the beginning of 2020, Start Fresh was on track to have by far its best year ever," he said in the video. "As for so many other businesses, things changed quickly, and Start Fresh’s efforts were overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the pandemic."

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The company was in business for almost five years.

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