Farms

Vancouver Island local food, farms and farmers markets. Guides to local fresh produce, farms, and farmers markets.

 

Vancouver Island Farms & Food Directory

Choose a region to see farms and local food producers listed by name ->

Victoria | Saanich Peninsula | Metchosin to Sooke | Cowichan Valley/Cobble Hill | Salt Spring Island
| Ladysmith, Nanaimo, & Gabriola | Parksville/Qualicum | Mid-Island Farms

 

 

Three Guides to Local Food, Farms and Farmers Markets

BC Farms & Food offers three online guides for people who want to eat fresh local foods, find farms and farmers markets, and buy locally.

1. The Vancouver Island Farms & Food Map

The Vancouver Island Farms & Food Map is an online map to hundreds of farms, farmers markets, and food producers on Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island. The map covers the major farming regions in and around Vancouver Island: Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, Metchosin, Sooke, Cowichan Valley, Cobble Hill, Salt Spring Island, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Parksville, Qualicum, Alberni Valley, Denman & Hornby Islands, Comox Valley, and Campbell River.

The farm map is a resource for people who want to explore island farms and source local food. The map allows users to search interactively on a range of local products and topics. Map users can locate fresh produce of every kind: fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, grains, eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, wine, and specialty foods like edible oils, sea salt, wine or fresh-milled flour.

In addition, people can use the map to locate CSA weekly farm box programs, farm stands, as well as agritourism attractions like tasting rooms, farm restaurants, workshops, events and overnight farm stays.

More about the farms & food map: Online Farm Map to Vancouver Island Local Foods

2. Vancouver Island Farms & Food A-Z Directory

The Vancouver Island Farms & Food A-Z Directory (above) is an alphabetical listing of farms and local food producers on Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island. People can look up farms or businesses by name and click through to their profile to see products and contact information. Farms and food producers are grouped alphabetically within several regions: Victoria, Saanich Peninsula, Metchosin to Sooke, Cowichan Valley/Cobble Hill, Salt Spring Island, Ladysmith, Nanaimo & Gabriola, Parksville/Qualicum, and Mid Island Farms & Food Producers.

3. Guide to Farmers Markets

The Guide to Farmers Markets is a directory to farmers markets on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island, Gabriola Island and Denman Island. This at-a-glance guide gives the locations and market days for markets throughout the islands.

Vancouver Island Farmers are Expanding the Boundaries of Local Foods

Island farmers produce a wide range of fresh, regional foods, including unique heirloom vegetables and fruits. As interest grows, island farmers are pushing the boundaries of what is considered “local.” Foods such as citrus and other Mediterranean fruit, bison, dried beans, traditional and alternative grains, once regarded as out-of-region subtropical or prairie-raised foods, are now finding a place in south coast British Columbia.

Producers are also promoting the foods, such as local spirits, wines, island-grown tea, and sea salt, that celebrate the unique terroir of Vancouver Island and British Columbia.

The 100-mile diet truly exists on Vancouver Island. The Vancouver Island Farms & Food Map, The Vancouver Island Farms & Food A–Z Directory, and the Guide to Farmers Markets provide the roadmap to local seasonal eating.