Home

How It Works
Browse Catalog
Find A Delivery Depot
Register to Order

Co-op Membership
Volunteer with NOW

Farms & Suppliers
Contact Us
About Us

Newsletter Sign Up

Farms and Suppliers

Below you will find more info on BC growers and processors who make delicious food for us. As we have time to build it, this list will grow.

Glen Valley Organic Farm
NOWBC has close ties with this farm near Ft Langley. Much of our fresh produce comes from Glen Valley.
The Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative (GVOFC) is a community of individuals who have come together with the shared goal of sharing, owning and operating the Glen Valley Organic Farm. The GVOFC's members come from a variety of backgrounds, including conventional and organic farming, education, law, project management, marketing and group facilitation. The GVOFC uses the consensus model of decision-making, ensuring that all members have a voice.

Vision
"to feed and educate present and future generations by co-operatively holding, stewarding and sustainably farming our land."

Goals
* provide access to certified organic food for shareholders and the local community;
* own and operate the farm co-operatively;
* steward the entire farm for the mutual benefit of the land, wildlife and people;
* be a model of sustainable living; and
* create opportunities to learn about sustainability.
Glen Valley website

Thomas Reid Farms
Thomas Reid Farms is the oldest certified organic chicken producer in BC. It is operated by Brad and Karen Reid, and their four sons. They started raising birds organically in 1993, and became certified by BCARA in '94. At first a modest operation, they now have over 25,000 birds in a flock. The farm is located in Aldergrove.
The Reids comply with BC organic standards, which are among the most stringent anywhere. There are minimum requirements for space, light and access to fresh air, as well as the expected organic feed and ban on antibiotics.
Brad has also been at the for-front of the struggle for recognition from the poultry marketing board. The marketing board has taken the position that organic chicken is not a unique product, and therefore does not deserve special consideration. In other words, organic producers must pay a marketing fee but receive no marketing if they wish to sell their birds as organic.
Negotiations on this issue are ongoing, and Brad has invested immensely in time and legal fees, as the courtroom is a popular negotiating tool for some marketing boards. Without this effort, we would not be able to buy organic chicken in this province.
As an interesting aside, the Reid family has almost produced a closed organic nutrient loop in the Fraser Valley. Brad gets organic chicken feed from his brother Rod. Some of the manure that the chickens produce goes to feed brother Fred's raspberries and field crops. Now if we could just get our kitchen scraps back to the farm ...
Thomas Reid Farms website

Forstbauer Family Natural Foods Farm
Founded in 1977 the Forstbauer Farm is a Certified Organic Farm in Chilliwack British Colombia, farmed using Biodynamic Principals and Certified through the Biodynamic Society of British Colombia (Demeter). Mary and Hans Forstbauer were pioneers in the early Organic farming movement 30 years ago and are still farming with integrity and passion.
Forstbauer Web Site

Klippers Organic Acres
The Klippenstein's are a young family who farm approximately 40 acres in the Similkameen Valley, striving to grow healthy food using organic methods and raising happy pastured animals. Klippers is a very diversified farm where they care for and manage the land responsibly. They grow an array of produce from peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples, onions, peppers, tomatoes, corn, and garlic.
Klippers website

Avalon Dairy
Avalon Dairy is a family business estabished in 1906 with just 6 cows here in Vancouver. Still operating at 5805 Wales Street, Avalon is now the oldest continuously operating dairy in BC. Avalon carries a delicious array of organic food including milk (in glass bottles), cream, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, butter, yogurt, sour cream and eggs.
Avalon website

Community Enhancement and Economic Development Society Farm (C.E.E.D.S.)
Established in the 70's on a property near 100 Mile House, this farm is based on strong principles of communal living and community service. Today the society has 10 resident members on four neighbouring farms. It is supported by a number of sustaining members around the province.
Neighbours currently purchases beef from CEEDS. Their animals eat grass in the summer and fall, and hay and potatoes in the winter and spring, with a small amount of grain supplement. This diet produces a very nutritious, flavourful meat.
C.E.E.D.S. website