The prospect of buying local, fresh products is seeing steady growth.

The Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Okanagan map is moving into its fifth year and second year for the map.

鈥淭he maps continue to be well received and are becoming one of the most requested publications at visitor centres and other outlets,鈥� said Shayne Wright of Buy Local! Buy Fresh!

Places such as Armstrong鈥檚 Otter Lake Farm, Vernon鈥檚 BX Press and the Coldstream Creek Road Orchard are among some of the 48 listings, plus events, mapped in the publication. And it鈥檚 growing.

鈥淲e鈥檙e planning to register 60 farms for 2017,鈥� said Wright.

鈥淟ast year we had a number of farms inquire to join in Coldstream and Lavington. We hope we can make space for them in next year鈥檚 edition.鈥�

Coldstream (as well as Vernon, Lake Country and other Okanagan communities) has been a sponsor of the map since it started five years ago. Wright would like to enter into a three to five year agreement with such sponsors.

But a couple Coldstream councillors have some hesitations.

鈥淚鈥檓 a little bit leary of seeing this continue into perpetuity,鈥� said Coun. Peter McClean, who suggested private sponsorship be sought.

鈥淚 looked at this as more of a helping hand to get started, not on a continual basis.鈥�

Wright says there is a possibility of some other region鈥檚 sharing the sponsorship with Coldstream, such as the Regional District of North Okanagan, if they are interested.

But, he adds: 鈥淭hey (farms) pay a pretty modest fee to participate. Hopefully the district can continue to provide some support.鈥�