BC's Bounty: Celebrate the Fall Harvest, From Land to Sea

The Lower Mainland 

The verdant Fraser River valley east of Vancouver has some of the richest soil in the province. Here you’ll find U-pick farms, dairy farms, and even an organic grain mill. The region has created a series of self-guided circle farm tours, each of which gives you an opportunity to meet the farmers and hear their stories, and to taste what’s in season right where it was grown, including wines, for those interested in acquainting themselves with the unique terroir of this delectable region.

Fall also means plenty of fresh cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, as well as crops that inspire some of the sweetest comfort foods, like cranberries, pumpkins, and apples. From the sea, this is the time to feast on salmon—the fish that is synonymous with British Columbia—and practise your shucking skills in anticipation of oyster season. Wild mushrooms will also start to appear on menus at farm-to-table restaurants like Burdock and Co. and Farmer’s Apprentice. And there’s no better time to warm up with hot, steaming dumplings by following Richmond’s Dumpling Trail.

Northern BC

Prince Rupert restaurant owners pride themselves on their selection of fresh, local ingredients, and menus that celebrate their connection to the landscape and community through food. There are plenty of fine places to dine for every meal of the day.

In Prince George, visit BC’s northernmost winery, Northern Lights Estate Winery, on the Nechako riverfront. In Terrace, enjoy the music scene and local food and drink options at The Skeena Bar, which sources ingredients from nearby purveyors including White Goat Coffee and Daybreak Eggs.

Kootenay Rockies

Farther east, in the Kootenay Rockies, go for a full-sensory experience by pairing autumn flavours with a flourishing art scene in its scenic mountain towns. Visit local exhibitions for new perspectives on the natural environment, and farm and craft markets that celebrate locally made products. At the end of September, watch the borscht cook-off at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre in Castelgar; try mead at the Kootenays’ only meadery, located in Skookumchuck; or sample creamy chocolates at one of the few traditional bean-to-bar chocolatiers in the world in Fernie.

The Okanagan & Thompson Valleys 

The best-known and most productive food region in BC is the Okanagan Valley, where the landscape is dotted with orchards and vineyards almost everywhere you look. Conditions here and in the nearby Similkameen Valley are perfect for growing tree fruits year round, including apples for fruit wine and cider. This makes for a fine selection of farm-to-table dining experiences in and around Kelowna. Fall is also is an exciting time to visit a local winery. Enjoy quieter tasting rooms while the action unfolds outside during the annual grape crush.

Fall tastings continue farther north in Kamloops, with farmers markets offering local products, award-winning wines, and new takes on old favourites (wine cocktail, anyone?) Download the Luv’n the Loops passport and take a fall tour with instant savings then tread onwards chasing waterfalls—and wineries—on a fall road trip through the Thompson Valley.