(Photo credit: Sweet Earth Farms. Photo: 2024 CSA offering)

Supporting local growers and harvesters is important to us, and our members. So in an effort to showcase the hard working folks within community supported agriculture and deepening our collective knowledge of where our food comes from, whether it is produce, flowers or sustainable seafood in our case, we touched base with CSA’s across Metro Vancouver (and the Sea-to-Sky corridor) again this year.

We hope you enjoy this updated list of how to source the very best produce, protein and flowers in our beautiful region.

Metro Vancouver

1. Abundant Acre Family Farm – Abbotsford / Chilliwack
   • Armed with the conviction that farming should contribute to soil health and be in harmony with the natural world, the Abraham family is happy to provide you with full-flavour vegetables, grown from non-GMO seeds.
   • They have offered CSA boxes since 2009, and are available for pick up in both Abbotsford and Chilliwack on Tuesday evenings from June until the end of October.
   • To learn more and to sign up click here or find them on Instagram or Facebook.
2. Black Table Farm – Vancouver / Langley
   • Their commitment is to no-spray, no-till practices which ensures the health of both soil and crops, cultivating vegetables in harmony with nature’s design
   • With only 50 spots available for 2024, they service members from Vancouver to Langley, with pick up locations including Locality Brewing and a house pickup in Willoughby, Langley, along with Naturally Cranberries in Fort Langley, and Luppolo Brewing in Vancouver.
   • Deadline to sign up is the end of April, or when all spots are full – so don’t wait!
   • To learn more and sign up click here or find them on Instagram
3. City Beet – Vancouver
   • City Beet is a small urban farm growing vegetables and flowers in residential front and backyards in Vancouver, on traditional, unceded Coast Salish territory. They follow ecological practices that prioritize soil and community health.
   • They have two offerings this year: 1) Veggie CSA: 20 weeks from early June through October 2) Flower Subscriptions: 5 or 8 bouquets, starting mid summer.
   • Pickup Details: Wednesdays, 4:00 to 6:30pm, at the Federal Store at 10th Ave and Quebec St.
   • To learn more and sign up click here or find them on Instagram
4. Container Brewing CSA  – Vancouver
   • The “Container Brewing CSA”, in partnership with Hazelmere Organics and Tall Shadow Bakery, offers three CSA 6 week sessions that brings together locally grown, organic produce (as well as fruit!) alongside freshly baked sourdough goodies and Container Brewing beer!
   • Their sessions are: Spring (now open – and sign up ends May 22), Summer (sign up ends July 3) and Fall (sign up ends Aug 14) and they offer both pick-up and delivery (in Vancouver only – see Delivery Coverage here) 
   • To learn more and to sign up:  click here. You can also follow them on Instagram or Facebook
5. Farmers on 57th – Vancouver
   • Stewarding 1 acre of community growing space near Marpole/South Vancouver, they grow delicious vegetables and herbs, as well as beautiful cut flowers for your table.
   • They offer 20 weeks of organically grown veggies or flowers (or both!) – from late May through mid-October for you to take home. Pickups are on Tuesday at their farm.
   • Reserve your harvest box, flowers, and find more information here. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook
   • ALSO!!! Want to learn who to grown your own food? They offer access to your own plot and courses to learn everything you need to start, maintain and eat in your own garden. They meet biweekly at their farm in the Marpole area on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00pm from April 02-Sep 03.
6.  Glen Valley Organic Farmers – Metro Vancouver / Abbotsford
   • Glen Valley Organic Farm’s CSA program offers 12- and 24-week vegetable subscriptions and a fruit share option.
   • Certified organic since 1992 and a Living Wage employer, GlenValley is also a Salmon-Safe certified farm. This recognizes the direct impact agriculture has on the health of waterways and fisheries.
   • Sign-ups are taken on an ongoing basis. Vacation holds allow subscribers to put their orders on hold and to use the credit for future orders.
   • Neighbourhood pick-up locations are offered in North Vancouver, Burnaby, Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford.
   • Skipper Otto members new to our program can use the Promo Code: SkipperOtto for a $10 membership discount on a new subscription. For more info and to sign up – click here or find them on Instagram or Facebook
7. Glorious Organics Cooperative Farm & CSA – Vancouver / Aldergrove
   • Glorious Organics Cooperative Farm is a certified organic and certified salmon-safe farm located in Aldergrove BC on the unceded Kwantlen Territory.
   • They offer a 20 week CSA filled with farm-fresh, seasonal veggies – with options to add-on additional veggies and eggs via their online store.
   • Delivery is weekly on Mondays to drop-off locations in East Vancouver, North Vancouver and West Vancouver – with farm pick-up options in Aldergrove too!
   • Spaces are limited, sign up by March 20. For more info and to sign up – click here or email them at: [email protected], or find them on Instagram
   • ALSO: you can visit them at Trout Lake and Kitsilano Farmers Markets under the ‘Organic Farm Connection’ tents (see eatlocal.org for schedule)
8. Kingfisher Farm Market – White Rock / Surrey
   • Kingfisher Farm Market is situated on a small farm in South Surrey.
   • The Neufeld family have been growing there for over a decade, providing the community with a wide selection of vegetables and flowers.
   • On Tuesdays, from June – October, make your way to their old barn for an amazing array of seasonal vegetables, flowers and more!  Or join their version of a CSA –  the Farmer’s Box, a curated selection of veggies with optional add-ons, delivered on Fridays to Crescent Beach, Ocean Park, White Rock or pickup at the farm.
   • Skipper Otto members can use discount code: Skipperotto for 5% off. For more info click here or find them on Instagram or Facebook
9. Pinsch of Soil – Vancouver / Langley
   • Pinsch of Soil is a small farm that integrates a market-garden and an orchard into their edible garden landscape. Their food is grown following organic standards with a focus on soil and plant health by mimicking natural processes such as compost amendments and companion planting.
   • They grow a variety of annual and perennial vegetables to enjoy through their 24 week CSA. It is a 1/2 year CSA program from May to mid-October to give customers a true sense of the diversity of food that can be grown throughout the season.
   • Delivery: Offered to Brookswood and Kitsilano areas or pick up at their farm.
   • To find out more click this link or find them on Instagram 
10. Salt & Harrow – Vancouver / Delta
    • Salt & Harrow is a 12 acre organic farm growing over 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, legumes and herbs, and is located in Tsawwassen First Nation Territory. The team works to provide locals with artisan quality organic fruits and vegetables, as a reflection of the place in which it is grown.
    • CSA program runs year-round, and can be purchased in 4 options up to a full year. Large shares: every week (meant for large families), Medium shares: every other week (meant for couples or split with a friend). Each box has a minimum $50 value, with 5% off now until April 1st. Sign up for a whole year and get two weeks free!
    • Pick up locations are at the following Farmers Markets: Riley Park, False Creek, Kitsilano or pick up at their farm in Delta.
    • To find out more click this link or find them on Instagram 
11. Sweet Earth Farms – Vancouver / Fraser Valley
    • They’re a little family farm, growing good food for good people in the mountains behind Chilliwack, BC. Their focus is on healthy soil, tasty food, happy animals and a sustainable lifestyle. Weekly delivery of fresh vegetables, local cheese, pasture raised eggs, organic sourdough, fruits, farmer’s sausage, mushrooms, grains, and more from them and their local farm friends.
    • Offering two CSA program: Summer CSA is 14 weeks, with registration from February to April, and deliveries from June – September. The Autumn CSA is 14 weeks, with registration open from June-August, and deliveries from September – December.
    • Delivery options to community drop points throughout Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
    • To find out more click the link here or find them on Instagram
12. UBC Farm CSA – Vancouver
    • The UBC Farm CSA program is one of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems’ agricultural distribution initiatives. They provide the UBC campus and broader Vancouver community with a weekly box of fresh, local, organic produce, grown at the farm. Many hands-on learning opportunities for both students and aspiring farmers are made possible through the program.
    • Members pick up at the farm on Tuesdays and Saturdays for 20 weeks from June to October.
    • Head to their website for registration details! Or find them on Instagram
13. Valley Buds Flower Farm – Vancouver / Squamish
    • Valley Buds Flower Farm is made up of two friends – Alana and Michelle, who are growing flowers and food on an unconventional 2 acre plot of land in the Squamish Valley on the unceded Coast Salish land in the Squamish Nation.
    • Their vegetable CSA is sold out for 2024, but they still have flower share options available. Sign up is open until they sell out or the CSA starts which is in June.
    • Pick ups take place at Antisocial Skateboard shop – 2337 Main Street in Vancouver.
      

Meat Producers

We also wanted to share about our friends who are meat producers:

1. Blue Sky Ranch – Metro Vancouver / Fraser Valley / Merritt 
   • Long-time friends and supporters of Skipper Otto, Julia and Ludo are based on 21 acres in the Nicola Valley near Merritt. They work exclusively with heritage breed Red Wattle pigs to help preserve this critically endangered breed.
   • In contrast to most conventional operations their pigs live entirely out on pasture except when farrowing and raising their piglets. They also work with local cattle ranchers and have more than a dozen cows.
   • While not running a CSA per se, they have regular deliveries to the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Merritt for their pastured pork and grass-finished beef.
   • For more information, check out their website, or find them on Instagram
2. Coghlan Cottage Farm – Langley BC
   • Since 2012, the Langfords have run this small family farm in Langley BC and specialize in heritage Berkshire Pork, Grass-Fed Beef, and Pastured Eggs. In their brand-new farm shop you’ll also find handmade soap, candles and a carefully curated collection of beautiful, useful items for daily life.
   • While not a CSA – the farm is open to the public Fridays 1-4:30pm and Saturdays 11-5pm, and pre-orders are strongly recommended
   • Mention Skipper Otto for 10% off your first order or use the code FISHFRIENDS if placing an order online.
   • To find out more, sign up for their weekly fresh sheet here or visit their website here

Sea-to-Sky Corridor

And we have a few friends along the Sea-to-Sky corridor:

1. Plenty Wild Farms  – Pemberton
   • Eat well and feel good about where your food comes from! Their Farm Share program is a unique alternative to traditional CSAs. The share amount you purchase is loaded onto a gift card that can be used in Pemberton, Squamish or Whistler to shop for your choice of certified organic produce from May through December.
   • Have fun in the kitchen with unusual offerings like celeriac & radicchio or keep it simple with classics like carrots & tomatoes.
     Purchase a share by April 24th and be sure to enter SKIPPEROTTO in the order notes to receive a bonus 5% credit.
   • For more information head to this link or find them on Instagram or Facebook
2. Rootdown Organic Farm – Pemberton
   • Established in 2009 Rootdown Organic Farm offers a 15 week Harvest Box Program, from late June to early October.
   • There are two box types available – the Traditional Box, with contents chosen each week by their farmers, or their Build Your Own Box, which is fully customizable. Weekly add-ons are available for ALL boxes using their members-only online store.
     
   • They serve Pemberton and Whistler only, with convenient weekly pick-ups in central locations in both towns. 
   • For more info and to sign up, click this link or find them on Instagram or Facebook. 

We want to thank you for eating with the ecosystem, and supporting local growers – it makes a big difference in their lives, just as it does our fishing families!