The lush pastoral landscape of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands has inspired a commitment to organic and sustainable farming methods that has resulted in exceptionally high quality produce.
Specialty food producers have responded by transforming these natural ingredients into products of pure indulgence.
Locally-crafted cheeses, sun-blessed honeys, tasty fruit conserves and locally foraged oysters are just some of the delectable foods you'll discover here.
Cheese artisans, in particular, are welcoming visitors for an inside look at their art. Many offer tours and tastings during the spring and summer months.
A sampling:
Hilary's Cheese Company/Cheese Pointe Farm
Hilary’s cheese makers produce a unique line of original cheeses inspired by local wines and beers: Red Dawn cheese is washed in Vancouver Island ales and ciders; Belle Ann cheese in locally-crafted blackberry port.
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Vegetarians will applaud the savoury cheeses produced with a vegetable-based rennet.
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From April until October visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour and watch the cheese making process through an observation window.
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Hilary's also operates a retail cheese shop in the village of Cowichan Bay.
Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
Little Qualicum produces a line of superb cheeses that range from fresh curds to a Welsh-style Caerphilly.
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The milk for these cheeses comes from the cheeseworks’ own cows at the Morningstar Farm in Parksville.
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Stop by for a self-guided tour - meet the farm animals, including new calves every spring.
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Morningstar was the first dairy farm in BC to be certified by the SPCA.
Salt Spring Island Cheese Company and Moonstruck Organic Cheese Company
Located on Salt Spring Island, both these exceptional cheese makers produce unique artisan cheeses.
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Salt Spring Island Cheese Company crafts a variety of goat and sheep milk cheeses, including a number of celebrated chêvres uniquely flavoured with herbs, spices and flowers such as basil, chilies, pansies and sage. Take a self-guided tour to watch the cheese crafting process, then indulge in the samples offered in the cheese shop.
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Moonstruck Organic Cheese Company makes certified organic cow milk cheeses, including an ash-ripened camembert and White Grace, a unique, aged white made without heat or pressing. The full, rich flavour of their blue cheeses has also become an item of renown.
Natural Pastures Cheese Company
These artisanal cheeses are made with the milk produced by free-range cows on a certified heritage farm.
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Visit the cheese shop in Courtenay, where you’ll be encouraged to "try before you buy."
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Be sure to sample the award-winning Comox Camembert, popular Boerenkaas, and flavoured Verdelaits.
Fanny Bay Oysters
Seafood lovers must not leave the area without indulging their passion in the area’s ocean-fresh Pacific oysters and Manila clams. Fanny Bay plants baby oysters in the inter-tidal zone, an area under water at high tide, but exposed at low tide. The exceptionally high tidal conditions in this area encourage the oysters to flourish.
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Tour the processing plant and learn how oysters and clams are grown and harvested (book in advance).
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While Pacific oysters and Manila clams are available year round, a variety of other seafood is offered as seasonally available.
Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery
Welcome to BC's first licensed meadery (producer of honey wines), situated in Sooke. Tugwell Creek is also celebrated for its flavourful honeys.
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Bees are released into different areas of the region so that nectar can be gathered from such diverse plants as salal, fireweed, hawksbeard, Canada thistle and blackberries.
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The distinctive meads are a blend of these varietal honeys and berries from the local region.
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A limited amount of fresh honey in the wax comb as well as bottled honey with chunks of honeycomb is available.
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The meadery is open for self-guided tours and tastings most of the year.