Nov 15

Foraging for your Holiday Meal with the Circle Farm Tour

‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings, as mouth-watering aromas and joyous laughter fill your home. Gather locally grown ingredients and artisan products for your holiday meal, sourced from the rich agricultural lands of the Fraser Valley. The Circle Farm Tour is your go-to guide for fresh-baked pies, artisan cheeses, spirited sips, and all the fixings for a hearty dinner. This season, meet the friendly faces behind your feast and support local farmers and small businesses.

Decorations

Deck the halls with a variety of poinsettias from Minter Gardens in Chilliwack, a garden centre with many plants, gardening staples, and fresh flowers. Find a festive table display and gifts for all as you wind your way through aisles filled with home accessories, clothing, and other seasonal must-haves. During the holiday season, Minter also offers workshops s and family-friendly events, which are sure to get you in the festive spirit.

The Festive Feast

Begin your meal with a cheeseboard piled high with fromage from Creekside Cheese + Creamery, a small family-run dairy farm nestled in the mountains of the Harrison River Valley.  The husband-wife team ages their cheese in a special underground cave, using six generations of cheesemaking wisdom to express the rich flavours of the terroir. Try the Gouda, Fromage Blanc, Garlic Belper, or their flagship Raclette (perfect for melting into ooey gooey goodness).  

Up your appetizer game with accoutrements like Gramma’s Dill Pickles and pre-made goodies from Neufeld Farms in Abbotsford. This is a great stop to source main course ingredients too (think: veggies, beef, pork, and chicken). The market also carries specialty items from many small local businesses in the area. 

The adventure to find a decadent side dish continues at The Local Harvest in Chilliwack, a bakery, market, and farm that uses regenerative and sustainable growing practices. While you’re there, you pick up a sourdough loaf or baguette from Anita’s Bread & Coffee. They offer plenty of vegan options too!

Your guests will gobble up the main course when you present a juicy, slow-roasted turkey from JD Farms Specialty Turkey in Langley. Their Certified Specialty Turkeys are raised with no antibiotics and no animal by-products or GMOs in the feed.

Seasonal Sips and Desserts

Get into the holiday spirit (or vino) with libations from Ripples Winery & New Wave Distilling in Abbotsford. The micro-climate in the Fraser Valley is prime for wine production and Ripples not only makes and bottles fragrant whites and aromatic reds on site, but they also offer a selection of mountain-inspired spirits for your hand-crafted cocktail menu. Fraser Valley Cider Company is another must-try libations provider, serving handcrafted ciders made in small batches using traditional techniques and freshly pressed BC apples. We know prepping for the big day is hard work, our friends at Fraser Valley Cider have got you covered! Be sure to enjoy a tasting before making your final beverage selection for your holiday festivities. 

Finish off your holiday meal with a show-stopping dessert. You can choose from a variety of seasonally themed pies, cakes, or cookies from Cabin Fever Junction in the Harrison River Valley. This home-style bakery and small-batch cannery makes everything from scratch, using fresh, local ingredients—and plenty of TLC.

From our table to yours, we hope you enjoy the locally grown ingredients and artisan products of the Fraser Valley!

Circle Farm Tour Stops Mentioned in This Story

Chilliwack

Minter Gardens | mintergardening.com | 604-792-6612
The Local Harvest |thelocalharvest.ca | 604-846-6006
Anita’s Bread & Coffee | anitasbreadandcoffee.com | 604-997-5964

Harrison River Valley

Creekside Cheese + Creamery | creeksidecreamery.ca | 604-796-8485
Cabin Fever Junction |facebook.com/cabinfeverjunction | 604-491-4555

Langley 

JD Farms Specialty Turkey | jdfarms.ca | 604-856-2431
Fraser Valley Cider Company | fraservalleycider.ca| 604-427-3512

Abbotsford

Neufeld Farms | neufeldfarms.ca | 604-859-2829
Ripples Winery & New Wave Distilling| rippleswinerynewwavedistilling.com | 604-864-1033