Vancouver Island and the neighbouring Gulf Islands feature many farms and markets that showcase local food, products, and arts and crafts.
Stroll through stands of fresh-baked breads and pastries, and check out an array of locally grown and produced foods ranging from baby salad greens and exotic types of garlic to free-range eggs and organic meats. Also look for products like home-made jams, salsas, honey and locally designed jewellery, clothing and natural soaps.
Many Vancouver Island communities host weekend markets, usually on Saturdays from May to October. From the large Duncan Farmers Market to the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market or the goats on the roof at Coombs Country Market, each market delivers a unique flavour of local farm-fresh produce and arts and crafts. Some farms on Vancouver Island also welcome visitors and offer attractions like petting zoos or corn mazes alongside their fresh produce.
Vancouver Island Markets
The bustling Duncan Farmers Market is the largest market in the Vancouver Island region, open year-round and loaded with a wide variety of foods and products. North of Duncan near Parksville, the Coombs Old Country Market is best-known for the goats that live on the market's grass roof. Open for more than 30 years, the Coombs market is a must-see for visitors traversing upper Vancouver Island and its deli is a great place to pick up supplies for a picnic lunch.
More than 100 vendors gather at Centennial Park in the town of Ganges for the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market. The market mandates that each vendor must "make it, bake it, or grow it." Salt Spring Island has a dynamic community of artists and artisans who sell their creations – jewelry, fibre arts, paintings, sculptures, and woodwork – at the market.
Nanaimo and the Comox Valley also host large farmers markets, as does Victoria, which features popular markets such as the Moss Street Market, the Peninsula Country Market, and the Metchosin Farmers' Market.
Vancouver Island Farms
From north to south, Vancouver Island offers a feast of organic farms that welcome visitors for tours and offer everything from freshly picked produce to grass-fed beef and free-range eggs. There are three main farming areas on Vancouver Island:
- Cowichan Valley: The Cowichan Valley is the region’s most prolific farming area – it has more than 17,376ha/42,936ac of farmland, including cranberry, oyster, dairy, and emu farms, and is also Vancouver Island’s main wine-producing area. Cowichan Valley farmers are renowned for their commitment to organic and sustainable farming practices. This is becoming one of North America's Slow Food epicurean centres.
- Saanich Peninsula: Located in the South Island around Sidney. In the summer, up to 20 farms offer agricultural tours. The Saanich Fall Fair has been an annual highlight for more than 130 years. Look for road-side stands loaded with berries, vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, and flowers.
- Salt Spring Island: The rich, rolling farmlands on Salt Spring Island are revered for the tender lamb, fruits and vegetables, alpaca woolens and fields of lavender that they produce.
Vancouver Island Farms to Visit
Some farms on Vancouver Island go beyond the standard offerings of fresh produce. Enjoy some affordable family fun by checking out all the amenities at Vancouver Island farms.
Saanich’s Galey Farms offers fresh-picked produce and lots more; there’s also a miniature train, petting zoo, giant corn maze that includes replicas of a sphinx, a pyramid and a western town. During October weekends, bounce on the Galey Farms hayride to the pumpkin patch and choose your own pumpkin for Hallowe'en.
Seaview Game Farm is best-known as the largest fallow deer farm on Vancouver Island and is located just north of Courtenay. The farm also produces organically raised chicken, lamb and venison. Take a tour past fields of deer and into their mini-farm of goats, lambs, peacocks, turkeys, llamas and alpacas. For the kids, there is a petting zoo and playground, as well as the opportunity to stay overnight in an authentic teepee.
Valhalla Farm Herbs ‘n Things, a small, family-run farm in the Cowichan Valley, is dedicated to producing organically grown herbs. Wander through the lovely display garden and buy jams and jellies in unique flavours such as black currant and tarragon or garlic and dragon fingers, plus herbal vinegars, teas and soaps.
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