I was reading the Summerland Visitor’s Guide recently and found a great article on Summerland’s agricultural history. In the 1800s, Summerland was known for its “fruit ranches.” Some of those same pioneer families are still farming today. If you drive through Summerland you’ll see dense fruit orchards, as well as many vineyards, and what are known as the upscale ground crops. Those crops include fancy, multi-coloured carrots, purple potatoes and the mixed salad greens you’ll find in many Summerland restaurants, paired with local wines and cheeses. You’ll also find these home grown products at fruit stands throughout the community and at the Summerland Farmers Market, which happens every Tuesday morning from May through October at downtown Memorial Park. Here’s something else I didn’t know, Summerland has an orchard that is RV friendly and the World’s Tallest Orchard Ladder. Probably the only town with that claim, or should I say climb to fame.