Locals is proud to work with the following local producers. We encourage you to read their stories and check out their websites (if applicable) for further information.
BEAUFORT WINERY
Jeff and Susan have a beautiful vineyard over looking the Beaufort Mountains, near Grantham Hall , where you can sample their fine wines. The wine tasting room is open Friday, Saturday, and Sundays' from 11-5. Have a picnic on the grounds with a bottle of Beaufort Wine and a selection of Natural Pastures cheeses served with assorted crackers. The perfect place to impress out of town guests! Visit them at: www.beaufortwines.ca
TANNADICE FARM
Heather and Allen McWilliam own this family run farm
and raise beef, pork, and pasture raised poultry in a natural, humane, and environmentally sound manner. No medicated feed, no hormones, and no animal by-products are in the feed nor in the animals! The pigs are born and raised on the farm and spend their lives in naturally lit, well-ventilated buildings. The meat is lean, tasty and exceptionally healthy. Their products are available at the Saturday Farmers Market and their farm store is open by appointment or by chance.
Visit them at:
PATTISON FARMS
Gerry and Dagmar Pattison own a lovely certified organic farm, located in Black Creek on Dzini Rd. They grow vegetables and herbs such as tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet and hot peppers, carrots, beans, greens, basil, fennel, heritage apples and pears. You can buy directly from their farm stand open seven days a week, or visit them at the Farmers Market.
Visit them at:
NATURAL PASTURES CHEESE CO.
Owned by Edgar and Marianne Smith, their world medal winning artisan cheeses are made from heritage dairy farm milk produced from the Comox Valley. Their swiss cheese maker's experience will tantalize your taste buds. Local terroir is captured in fifteen artisan cheeses. They use local wasabi and habanero peppers to create flavours unique to the world. Come and taste their products at the Saturday Farmers' Market or at their cheese factory located on McPhee Ave. You can also find their products in retail cheese delis throughout Vancouver Island and Vancouver.
Visit them at:
SEA MONSTER FISHING LTD
Michael and France Sanderson have been in the fishing business for over 30 years. They mostly fish for Salmon up in the Queen Charlotte Islands with their sons on their boat, the Harmony Isle . They also own Fish N' Stitches in Comox which specializes in embroidery. Check out France's work on your server's apron!
Visit them at:
ESTEVAN TUNA
They are a family based fishing business that is approved as sustainable, “good choice” and “green-listed” by the Audubon Society, David Suzuki Foundation, and Vancouver Aquarium.
With their method of using surface jigs there is zero by-catch of dolphins, shark or other species and no impact on the ocean floor
Their Albacore Tuna is available at the Comox Valley Farmers's market frozen and vacuum packed.
Visit them at:
EATMORE SPROUTS
Glen and Carmen Wakeling have owned and operated Eatmore Sprouts for the last 18 years. Their farm boasts several greenhouses filled with sweet smelling organic sunflower, pea, and wheatgrass sprouts. They have acres of gardens growing spinach, kale, greens, herbs, and flowers, all organically! Their main buildings house the sprout growing rooms and packaging center, where employees weigh and package sprouts with pride. Some of the sprout varieties you will find in our local grocery stores and up and down the island are: Alfalfa, Deli blend, Onion, Garlic, Clover, Broccoli, Mixed Bean, Mung Bean, Pea shoots, and micro greens. Liven up your salads and sandwiches with a handful of sprouts! Your body will thank you for it.
Visit them at:
CHRISTINE'S QUACKERY
In 2002 Christine bought her lovely farm on Idiens Way in Comox and while at a neighbours home picking out a kitten she fell in love with a duck and brought it back to the farm to live. After a week she decided that “Donald” the Muscavoy duck needed a couple of girlfriends and her business grew from there. She now has three male Muscovoys' and 30 females and a lot of babies! You can also see happy sheep, donkeys, pigs, chickens, and dogs all living in harmony. Christine sells her ducks and chickens frozen on the farm in a self serve style and some buy the ducks for their ponds to help with mosquito and slug control.
Did you know that a duck's quack has no echo? And that a male duck walking in a straight line can cover 30 km per day?
Visit Christine at:
LITTLE QUALICUM CHEESEWORKS
Owned by Clarke and Nancy Gourlay, the cheeseworks was started in 2001 after they came home from visiting Switzerland with their 3 boys. They are located on 68 beautiful acres of pasture and park like settings under the shadow of Mt. Arrowsmith, between Parksville and Qualicum on a farm called “Morningstar”. 100% of their cheese is made from their own milk, right on the farm. Its a wonderful place to visit, especially with children as guests are encouraged to visit the goats, chickens, pigs, calves and lambs. The farm store carries all their cheeses, such as cheese curds, fromage frais, feta, raclette, brie, and caerphilly to name a few. They also sell beef, bacon, snacks and lots of cool “farm memorabilia”. You can also buy their cheeses up and down the island at most grocery stores.
Visit them at:
NATURE SPRINGS WASABI
Grown in the Comox Valley by Lia and Brian McCormick and Edgar Smith on a beautiful natural forested acre. Only picked to order, rhisomes and plants are always available for sale. Isn't it time to spice up your life?
STONY BOG FARM
Stony Bog Farm is owned by Carl Goldscheider and Cyneth McKinnon who have been farming all of their lives. Stony Bog got its name from two parts of the farm. During the winter, the lower fields are covered in about 4 feet of water and while Carl tried to plow the upper part of the farm, he broke 3 plows from all the rocks. This stony area is now home to his blueberries and pasture for the sheep! Carl and Cyneth started out by growing enough veggies to supply 17 Comox Valley restaurants back in the 1970's, progressed to raising chickens, lambs, cows and ducks. They have since scaled down their operation, growing veggies just for themselves, lamb and beef are pre ordered in the fall by regular customers, and you can only buy their chickens by visiting the farm and picking
one from the freezer Friday to Sunday's.
They are located 2 km north of the Merville store on the right hand side. Watch for the “fresh eggs” sign at the bottom of the hill.
NATURES WAY FARM
Natures Way Farm is owned by Marla Limousin and George Ehrler and is located on Darcy rd, in Courtenay. They specialize in growing blueberries, strawberries and salad greens. Their farm stand is open everyday from 10-6pm, June through to September. They are also at the Saturday Farmers Market. In 2009 they opened their own winery which specializes in fruit wines; Blue Moon Estate Winery.
Visit them at:
ISLAND BISON RANCH
Delton and Karen Henrich can be found at the Farmer's Market on Saturday's and Wednesday's selling their premium quality bison meat. Their bison are raised in a clean and natural environment without the use of chemicals, hormones, or steroids. Buffalo meat is tender with a full, rich, dense flavor, and if you need some advice on preparing it, Karen has a cooking chart and cookbook available for you to take home with your purchase.
Visit them at:
HAZELMERE FARMS
In 2000 Lijen and Sherlene Hua moved to the Comox Valley from Taiwan and bought Hazelmere Farms in an area known as Happy Valley. In 2002 they became certified organic and grow interesting fruits and vegetables such as wasabi, figs, bok choi, edamame, burdock root, mazuna and arugula greens and heirloom tomatoes. They are well known at the Saturday Farmers Market not only for their produce but for their wasabi spread, delicious wontons, and berry sodas. Located at 3222 Grant Road, Courtenay, they can be reached for farm tours by calling 250-336-2308
Visit them at:
AQUATEC SEAFOODS LTD.
This 30 year old seafood processing business in Comox operates from a modern, 7000 square foot HACCP certified plant. Their farm sites are located in remote locations and flushed with pristine tidal waters, yet the product is accessible to the plant within a few hours of harvesting. Their full time staff of 50 multi-tasked food technicians will meet or exceed your shellfish, finfish and smoked seafood expectations.
Visit them at:
BITESIZE SPECIALTY FOODS
BiteSize Specialty Foods’ products are produced on Vancouver Island by Karen Pattison, using only the freshest ingredients. The majority of their produce is purchased locally with no chemical sprays or fertilizers, some certified organic. Hand made in small batches to further their high standards of quality and packing each jar with care ensures a unique taste sensation that keep their customers coming back. She is a favourite at the Farmer’s Markets.
Visit them at:
BIG D’S BEES
This pure, natural Comox Valley honey is available year long through the Farmer’s Markets or may be purchased on line.
For more information email Dan:
CARBREA VINEYARD & WINERY
Located on beautiful Hornby Island, Carbrea Vineyard and Winery has been practicing sustainable farming methods without the use of herbicides or pesticides since 2002. Using French oak for aging their hand crafted wines they have created a wonderful local wine that is a pleasure to enjoy.
Visit them at:
DARK SIDE CHOCOLATES
Located in downtown Cumberland, Dark Side Chocolates is an artisan chocolate shop dedicated to making specialty chocolates by hand, using fresh, organic ingredients. Jan Peavoy uses chocolate made in small batches, from single origin, organic cocoa beans originating in Central and South America. She is providing her customers with quality chocolate produced ethically and ecologically, focussing on creating unique flavours to captivate your senses.
Visit them at:
ISLAND SCALLOPS
Island Scallops is located near Qualicum and has been involved in aquaculture since 1989. They specialize in “pacific Scllops”, a hybrid of local weathervane and imported Japanses scallops. Cultured Pacific Scallps are a healty, organic food which require clean water to grow, thus making our local waters perfect for them and perfect for us.
Visit them at:
ISLAND VIEW LAVENDER
In the core of historic Union Bay lies the beautiful Island View Lavender Cottage Garden. With over 22 varieties of lavender plants you will find an irresistable array of plants and products to take home, such as teas, jellies and herb blends. Immerse yourslef in an intoxicating purple haze.
Visit them at:
KARMA COFFEE COMPANY
Karma Coffee is a small Vancouver Island based roaster located in Coombs. They are committed to sustaining a vibrant planet through right actions and intentions while supplying quality locally roasted certified organic fair trade coffees.
Visit them at:
PRONTISSIMA PASTA
After a global courtship which took them to Australia, Ireland, the Mediterranean and Canada, Sarah and Wally Walsh settled in Courtenay where an idea that was sparked while in Italy was fulfilled in 2007. With flavors of fresh pasta ranging from citrus black pepper, chipolte lime and carrot dill, bags of their delicious pasta can be found at the Farmer’s Market and other area stores.
Visit them at:
SURGENOR BREWING COMPANY
The Best Beer can only come from the Best Place on Earth, Vancouver Island. Carefully selected malt barley, glacier fresh water, hops from around the world and specially formulated yeast merge to make a quality beer made with craftsman standards.
Visit them at:
WATRIN ORCHARD
Owned for the last four years by Larry and Angelina Watrin, the farm produces a wide variety of apples, cherries, pears and plums. They also grow garlic, rhubarb and potatoes. But they don’t stop there. They also sell their own orchard honey and honey products, fruit pies, jams, jellies and other preserves. Catch up with them at any Farmer’s Market or visit their farm at 1507 Philmonte Road in Comox.
WHALETOWN BAY OYSTERS
For more than 20 years Ces Robinson has been oyster farming in Whaletown Bay on Cortes Island. This bay offers prime conditions with its clean water and pure ocean currents, ensuring top quality, delicious oysters.
Call Ces at 1-800-314-1126
ISLAND GOURMET TRAILS
Discover the heart of the island with
a culinary adventure with a distinguished
chef and educator, Gaetane Palardy.
Her knowledge of fine food, delight
in conversation and passion for teaching
make her an engaging guide.
Tours are planned to cover different
culinary trails:farmer's markets, bakeries, organic farms, orchards, cheese factories, chocolatiers, oyster and scallop farms, fish docks, a lavender farm, cooking classes, wineries, breweries, artisan pasta makers, gourmet picnics and restaurants.
You can even explore the countryside in French!
Visit them at:
ROYSTON ROASTING COMPANY
Gary and Dyan Spink are very experienced in the coffee and specialty coffee business. They roast the finest %100 arabica, Fair Trade and organic coffee, and their de-caf is water processed. They specialize in personalized labeling for the tourism and gift market. If you are fortunate, you can even stay at their vacation rental located above the roasting company. wake up and smell the coffee! www.bccoffee.ca
MIDDLE MOUNTAIN MEAD
Owners Helen Grond and Stave McGrath are proud to present Middle Mountain Mead, an artisan honey winery combining the best of ancient and modern techniques to create small lots of premium handcrafted mead. As well as being a superb wine, mead has been central to rituals of celebration and remembrance down through the ages.
Visit them at: www.middlemountainmead.com
copyright 2012 Localscomoxvalley.com all photos copyright 2010 Lia McCormick (unless otherwise stated) Web services: Full Circle Media
364 8th Street Courtenay, BC Canada V9N1N3 250-338-6493