Buy Local Initiatives

Below you’ll find plenty of local groups and programs that can connect you with healthy, local food.

Farm Fresh

You can connect with local farms at Island Farm Fresh.

Features

  • A map to the farms.
  • A product list.
  • A season schedule.

Flavour Trails

The North Saanich Flavour Trail was a success. So now, the trail concept covers more local food community celebrations and farm events.

This is your chance to meet Peninsula farmers, fishers, food producers, chefs and vintners.

Both the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable and the District of North Saanich support Flavour Trails.

Get Fresh with the Locals

Find and support the producers, suppliers and supporters of your local food community. 

Their map leads you to area farms, U-picks, farmers markets, wineries, fresh seafood, organic and hormone-free meat and poultry products, restaurants and more. 

BC Farms & Food

BC Farms & Food reports on food and farming in the province. Discover local food opportunities and their role in our health, wealth, happiness and security.

  • Get maps to local farms and food distribution sites.
  • Find Salt Spring Island options.
  • Read articles on local farm and food issues and ideas.

Farm to Cafeteria

Farm to Cafeteria puts local, nutritious and sustainably produced foods in public schools and hospitals. 

For example, Madrona Farm ran a weekly salad bar at Reynolds Secondary School during lunchtime.

The Public Health Association of British Columbia currently runs this country-wide initiative.

Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery (SPUD)

SPUD is a local food supplier. They deliver local, fresh and healthy products right to your door.

"We believe access to real, healthy food should be simple and easy, and what we eat should come from sources as close to us as possible."

Saanich Organics

Saanich Organics is a community of farmers. They deliver fresh, healthy, local, certified organic produce to the Greater Victoria area.

  • They deliver to homes
  • They sell at the Moss Street and James Bay Markets.
  • They supply local restaurants and grocery stores.
  • They run the seed company “Seeds of Revolution”.

Camosun College

Camosun supports sustainability. Their ARAMARK locations use locally raised and supplied food.

  • 18 – 20% of produce is grown on Vancouver Island.
  • 72% of it is grown in B.C.
  • 90% of baked goods are local.
  • Eggs are cage-free and B.C. raised.
  • Milk and cream come from Island suppliers.
  • They focus on Canadian-raised protein.

Contact Camosun at 250- 370-3000.

University of Victoria

The University has an established sustainability policy.

  • A Strategic Plan that aims to "further develop (our) ethical and sustainable purchasing practices".
  • A food services department that uses suppliers offering local foods.

Contact the University of Victoria at 250-721-7211.

Saanich Parks Urban Agriculture

We plant edibles into some of our gardens. The harvest changes but in the past we have grown everything from flowering herbs and runner beans to pumpkins and tomatoes. We even tried bananas.

Where to Find Park Produce

  • Gorge Waterway Park. There is a garden next to the playground.
  • Municipal Hall has planters and hanging baskets full of edibles. You will find them in Middleton Plaza at the parking lot entrance.
  • We also planted a vegetable patch at the Darwin Avenue entrance to Municipal Hall.