I know I spend a lot of your reading time extolling the virtues of the high-flying high-tech industry and what it could mean to the Valley.

But the rewards are endless if we capture the needs of these growing companies earlier.

Here is an experiment taking place in Lumby.

Harry Adam, principal of the high school, is leading the charge.

He's involved with Community Storefronts, and Industry Canada believes it is an important trend in this global knowledge-based economy and a foundation for growth and creation.

They provide the ability to conduct commercial transactions on the Internet. Five locations in Canada are doing a pilot project, an eight-month experiment.

So far in Lumby, 11 businesses are presenting their goods to the Internet marketplace and conducting commercial transactions in a safe, convenient alternative to traditional marketing and sales transactions.

The cost to the businesses is a minimal $350.

The businesses are offering products ranging from value-added wood items through specialized water sport equipment, opals, sculpture art and world-famous Okanagan food products.

Adam told me these businesses in the North Okanagan see E-commerce as the wave of the future.

Adam can be reached at (250) 547-9231 or on-line at www.monashee.com