Experience the delicious variety of culinary flavours in the Cowichan Valley on a tour. Enjoy the valley's lush agricultural landscape while visiting exceptional organic farms, master cheesemakers and wonderful wineries along the way - summer and fall are the most popular times to visit. Stop at farmers' markets and roadside stands to buy locally-made jams and artisanal cheeses as well as a luscious variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. The Courtenay Farmers’ Market, the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market, the year-round Alberni Valley Farmers’ Market, and the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market are especially well known. Near Nanaimo, shop at the Coombs local country market which has an “Old West” atmosphere and goats grazing on the roof.
Self-drive tours
Highway signs denote countless gourmet attractions, making it easy to take a self-guided tour of the region's wineries, farms, orchards and markets. Enjoy the scenery en route, which includes the spectacular mountain and ocean views, as well as the unique buffalo grazing in the Cowichan Valley. The Cowichan Valley (also known as the “Napa Valley of the North”) has more than 17,376ha/42, 936ac of farmland including cranberry, oyster, dairy, and emu farms. Visitors can watch production at a factory that makes delicious European-style cheeses.
The Saanich Peninsula in the South Island destination is another exceptionally fertile area. During the summer as many as 20 farms participate in farm tours. These can include exhibits of historic farm machinery and demonstrations of traditional farming methods, presented by the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society at Heritage Acres near Victoria.
Many communities have fall fairs, including the Saanich Fall Fair, annual highlight for more than 130 years.
Guided tours
For those who'd rather sit back and leave the driving to others, a number of companies offer set tours (or can customize a tour to reflect visitors' personal interests). These include: - Travel With Taste and Crush Wine Tours on Vancouver Island. Day tours include visits to local farms, cheese artisans and wineries.
- Island Gourmet Safaris offers a day trip on Salt Spring Island that focuses on food, wine and art.
- The Aerie Resort offers a guided autumn mushroom hunt followed by a lesson on mushroom preparation, with a tasting presided over by the resort's executive chef.
- Seaflora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare offers a unique seaweed tour. Learn about edible and wearable seaweed with the "Seaweed Lady." Follow up with a seaweed spa treatment and, later, a gourmet dinner featuring seaweed at the legendary Sooke Harbour House.