Valley Wide Meats

Established in 1991, the Yntema family began North Okanagan Game Meats, a small family-run deer production and processing farm in the beautiful rolling hills of the North Okanagan, nestled in the triangle between Salmon Arm, Armstrong and Vernon. They raised their own deer, wild boar and lamb on the property. In 2004, after significant investment and expansion of the abattoir, they were able to meet the necessary upgrades to be certified as a Class A meat processor under the Meat Inspection Regulations. With these upgrades also came a custom cut and wrap operation that became incorporated as Valley Wide Meats. Valley Wide Meats processes beef, pork, lamb and game meats. They also have meat further processed off-site into sausage as well as various smoked and cured products. The North Okanagan Game Meats label still operates and services the restaurant and winery business in the Okanagan valley with game meats such as lamb, deer, wild boar, ostrich, emu, and rabbit. One notable customer includes Quail’s Gate Okanagan Valley Winery, where local meat and game are served in “OLD VINES”, the Restaurant at Quails’ Gate.

Richard Yntema, owner and operator of Valley Wide Meats and North Okanagan Game Meats has a long-standing connection with the Okanagan Culinary Arts program and Okanagan College in Kelowna. He has provided valuable meat cutting and processing knowledge to the third year students in the culinary arts program for many years, and even offers site visits to his operation in Enderby, providing the students with superb hands-on experience. Richard has also provided talks to customers at the Quails’ Gate Winery extolling the virtues of locally produced and processed meats to pair with their fine Okanagan wines. Most recently, Richard has supplied local ostrich meat to the Gold Plate Chefs’ Competition in Kelowna, hoping to further market the increasing trend of local meats.

Richard strives to supply his customers with the highest quality local meats; his products are sourced from producers locally right here in the heart of the beautiful BC Okanagan Valley.