Summerland maple syrup producer combines charity with entrepreneurship for Christmas

Roch Fortin is making some sweet deals for local food banks this Christmas season.

The Summerland-based entrepreneur operates Maple Roch, a maple-based products retail store, and is pioneering the art of maple syrup production in the Okanagan.

Last spring, Roch connected with London Drugs, who provided the local businessman with shelf space to sell his unique maple-based products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That promotion has been working really well, and we wanted to continue through Christmas,” Roch says.

He approached the drug store chain with the idea of selling Christmas gift baskets, but with a seasonal twist. The money from sales of the gift baskets would go to local food banks in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Penticton.

Roch also went to the Summerland Food Bank and recruited several clients to work in his warehouse, creating the baskets.

“Right now I have three people who are normally clients of the food bank working in the back making gift baskets and getting some additional income for the Christmas season due to the agreement with London Drugs,” he says.

Roch says a percentage of the proceeds will also go to the Summerland Food Bank.

He says the initiative isn’t only helping provide an income for people locally, but also for his maple syrup supplier in New Brunswick.

“People are being really supportive of the effort, and the help we’re getting from our food banks’ clients is really helping us fill our gift basket orders,” Fortin says.

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