Cedar, named for the thick stands of Western Red Cedar that still cover large portions of the area, is a rural community 10 minutes north of Ladysmith off the Trans Canada Highway 1. The community is home to richly fertile farms and orchards including Yellow Point Cranberries, Blue Harvest Farm, and Hazelwood Herb Farm. The Cedar Farmers' Market, is held at a grassy field near the Crow & Gate Pub on Yellow Point Road from May to October. In Ladysmith find a selection of specialty food shops.
Fruit and Herb Farms
Yellow Point Cranberries (4532 Yellow Point Road), open for tours year-round, features an on-site store with 20 varieties of jams, jellies, chutneys, and salsas, and Cranberry Lemon Liqueur with rosehips. The best time to visit is during the fall harvest, when the fields are bright red with fruit. Nine varieties of certified organic blueberries – fresh or frozen – are available at Blue Harvest Farm (13387 Code Road off Cedar Road near the Nanaimo Airport) from early July to mid-August. Nearby is Hazelwood Herb Farm (13576 Adshead Road). Hazelwood's garden brims with some 400 fragrant varieties of herbs during the April-September high season. Purchase potted herbs or check out the jellies, mustards, vinegars, herbal remedies and skin-care products in the gift shop
Specialty Foods
Ladysmith's main street has its own independent grocery store (49th Parallel Grocery), a bakery (Old Town Bakery) and butcher (Bouma Meats, a specialist in local meats, homemade sausages and fresh seafood). Ladysmith Harbour was one of the first spots on the west coast to seed and farm clams and oysters. Freshly harvested purchases can be made at Limberis Seafood (5025 Limberis Drive) just north of town. Stop by the Ladysmith Visitor Centre for a Cedar & Yellow Point Artisans' Guide, which maps local farms in Cedar.