West End Farmers Market; Destination Vancouver/Vision Event Photography In
Vancouver food establishments enjoy incredible access to local farmers, the ocean, as well as the province’s wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Summer eating is abundant in the city, with numerous ways to experience the best that British Columbia has to offer in fresh food and drink.
Fresh Local Produce
Photo: Vancouver Farmers Markets
Vancouver Farmers Markets, established in 1995, have grown considerably over the years, as people in the city become more committed to supporting their local food economy. The markets are a place not only to find fresh local produce (think cherries, green beans, and zucchini) and artisanal goods, but also to celebrate community. There are seven markets (Downtown, West End, False Creek, Mount Pleasant, Trout Lake, Kitsilano, and Riley Park). in full swing right now on various days of the week, and they run until the fall. Grab a meal from a food truck, listen to live entertainment, and meet Vancouver’s local producers.
UBC Farm, home to “a teaching and research centre” (The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems), is a thriving agricultural destination. Their Farmers’ Markets, which run until the end of October, take place Tuesdays (4pm-6pm) and Saturdays (10am-2pm), with by-donation tours on Saturdays at noon. They have Bookstore Markets on Wednesdays (11am-2pm), while seasonal berry u-picks take place in July.
You can also find a ton of fresh produce and artisanal food products at Granville Island Public Market. This lively indoor market is packed with stalls selling local produce, seafood, meat, cheeses, baked goods, and much more. There is also a food hall for purchasing meals that you can enjoy at one of the many outdoor seating areas.
Granville Island Public Market exterior; Photo: Destination Vancouver, Nelson Mouellic
Southlands Heritage Farm, located in southwest Vancouver, is a charming place to visit. They’re open to the public daily (Mon-Fri 3:30pm to 7pm, weekends and holidays 9am to 5pm). It’s free to visit the farm and its animals (e.g., horses, ducks); as well, pony rides are offered most weekends and holidays from noon to 2pm. They hold a farm gate market on select days (Fridays 11am-4pm July and August; Saturdays 11am-4pm in September and October), with produce picked fresh Thursdays and Fridays.
In addition to markets in Vancouver, there are numerous other markets that occur across the region. They include Richmond’s Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market (August 4 and 18; September 1 and 15); Artisan Farmers’ Markets in Burnaby (Saturdays from 9am-2pm), Ambleside (Sundays 9am-2pm until October 27), and Brentwood (Sundays 10am-2pm until September 29); the Ladner Village Market (July 28, August 11 and 25, September 8 from 10am to 4pm); and the Abbotsford Farm and Country Market (Saturdays from 9am to noon until October 26). Richmond Country Farms (open daily 9am to 8pm) is a great place for finding the best of local produce.
Greendale Acres in Chilliwack is holding a Summer Market on August 18 (11am to 4pm) where they’ll host local farmers and farms, in addition to a special kid vendor section. You can feast on local corn at their Chilliwack Corn Festival (August 3-4, 10am to 7pm, $16 per person online, $19 per person at the door), with tons of corn-themed activities, like wandering in the Luke Bryan Corn Maze, corn shucking and eating competitions, live music, and a corn hole tournament.
Photo: Greendale Acres
Berry picking can be a fun way to get actively involved in Metro Vancouver’s local food system. While raspberry and strawberry season are winding down, blueberry season will probably go into mid-August. UBC Farm has u-picks in July, but you can also go further afield to producers such as Maan Farms in Abbotsford, Krause Berry Farms in Langley, Willems Berry Farm in Abbotsford, and Klaassen Farms in Chilliwack. Many of these farms offers tours, as well as a host of activities (e.g., visiting farm animals) for the whole family.
Photo: Klaassen Farms
Finally, more info about produce, local farmers, and what’s in season, can be found via BCfresh, a grower-owned organization that distributes produce from the province’s farms.
Local Meat and Sustainable Seafood
Restaurants, breweries and bars in Steveston village, Richmond; Photo: Tourism Richmond
Vancouver not only has amazing fresh produce, but its proximity to local farms and the ocean means that ethically and sustainably-raised and sourced meats and seafood are readily available. You can find them at local farmers markets, as well as at artisan butchers in town.
Two Rivers Meats, a supplier of many of the restaurants in town, has become synonymous with high quality products due to the stringency of their sourcing from local farmers. Their goods can be found at retailers, but also at their shop and café in North Vancouver. There, they have a full selection of everything from dry-aged beef to sausages but you can also try their meat in items like beef tartare, Hiro wagyu sliders, and rotisserie chicken with slaw.
Photo: Two Rivers Meats
Other top-notch craft butchers in Vancouver include Luigi and Sons, Sebastian & Co Fine Meats, Pete’s Meat, and Jackson’s Meat & Deli. Meanwhile, in Pitt Meadows, Hopcott Farms has a butcher shop right on their family farm, selling natural, hormone-free meat.
If you’re looking to find local sustainable seafood, many of the markets—like Granville Island Public Market—have a lot of selection. You can get even closer to the source by visiting Fishermen’s Wharf at False Creek (note: many of the companies require pre-ordering before pick-up). While you’re there, visit Go Fish and fuel up on items like a po’ boy oyster sammy or fish ‘n’ chips. Excellent sea-to-table fish ‘n’ chips is also found at The Fish Counter, which has locations on Main Street and on Commercial Drive. They sell local seafood there as well.
Alternatively, head to Richmond’s Steveston Fisherman’s Wharf to purchase fresh seafood, like squid and shrimp, from local boats. Check daily to see what is available. Try local seafood at one of the many restaurants in the area, such as Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant.
Farm to Table Restaurants
Honey Salt market vegetables; Photo: Tara Lee
There are so many restaurants in the city committed to sourcing locally for their produce, meat and seafood, as well as wine, beer, and spirits. On each plate and in each glass, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the region’s dedicated and talented producers. Plus, the food tastes so vibrant due to the proximity and seasonality of ingredients.
One of the pathmakers of the farm to table movement in Vancouver has been chef Andrea Carlson. Her Michelin-starred restaurant, Burdock & Co, specializes in beautifully curated tasting menus ($150 per person) that showcase local produce. For example, their “flower gazing under a Berry Moon” includes a dish of dry aged 63 Acres beef strip loin, nasturtium flower butter, spring pickles jus, nasturtium leaf, turnip and braised beef cheek rolls, and marjoram potatoes. Local natural wines are paired with the courses. Burdock’s sister establishments, Bar Gobo (wine bar) and Harvest Community Foods (café/grocery store), evidence a similar local-first ethos.
Michelin-recommended The Acorn has garnered acclaim and devotion for its elevated crafting of plant-based ingredients. Local is the game here, with close ties to nearby farmers and foragers. Dishes are always unique and delicious, like one with shiitake, soy braised squash, kelp, ginger, and ginger leaf. Local bio-dynamic and low intervention wines make up the drink list.
The Belgard Kitchen is the ideal spot for developing a deeper appreciation for local produce, wine, and beer. Housed in the same space as Vancouver Urban Winery, the restaurant is an ode to local ingredients as well as house-made wine, beer, and cider. Dishes include a seared lamb saddle with a braised lamb croquette, green pea purée, and crispy lamb polenta; and a roasted sablefish with grilled asparagus and confit cherry tomatoes.
Make sure to catch Forage on Robson Street before it closes in November as the building undergoes a revamp. They currently have a three-course Best of BC menu ($65), which features dishes such as a Hannah Brooks Farm Salad with radishes, whipped Neufchatel, and elderflower dressing; duck confit with garlic scape pomme purée, green beans, and wild blueberry jus; and elderflower crème caramel with spruce and compressed rhubarb and strawberries.
Dockside Restaurant on Granville Island has one of the best patios in the city, and a cuisine that matches its waterside location. Executive Chef Josef Driemel prioritizes sourcing locally in his Pacific Northwest cuisine—with French, Mediterranean, and Asian influences. The menu this season ranges from a summer rotolo with ricotta, spinach, peas, and asparagus, topped with mozza, to a lovely pan seared halibut on smoked honey labneh with a fricassé of peas, shiitake, and green beans.
Dockside Restaurant; Photo: Tara Lee
You might not expect farm-to-table eating at a casino and entertainment complex, but in Vancouver, local and sustainable sourcing are taken very seriously at a range of establishments. Honey Salt at Parq Vancouver celebrates the bounty of the region with dishes like Honey Salt Market, a selection of local seasonal produce (e.g., snap peas, radishes, roasted carrots) served with guacamole, hummus, and green goddess dip. Other creations like pan fried BC wild halibut with roasted Myca Farms mushrooms, gnocchi, and basil pesto showcase sustainable local seafood.
