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Finding local and organic produce in Tofino and Ucluelet
Tofino and Ucluelet tend to attract visitors who value healthy living: clean air and water, keeping active in the outdoors, and nutritious foods. For people who value health and wellness, it helps to know where to find local and organic products.
Each town has a supermarket—the Co-op Grocery stores—with a small organic section and some organic produce, so you may be able to find what you are looking for there. But each town has specialty shops too, and even some local products.
The west coast of Vancouver Island is a tough place to farm—both in terms of soil character and climate. (Hundreds of homesteaders who came, and then left, a century ago found that out the hard way). But in the last couple of years there have been a few agricultural successes.
Across the harbour from Ucluelet is a gardening initiative called Medicine Farm. You may find their tender greens in both towns’ Co-op grocery stores when it is available. Out at the Tofino/Ucluelet junction, at the new Wya Welcome Centre, is a garden run by the Ucluelet First Nation.
They have been working there for two years, and are having great success with field products such as kale, chard, peas, strawberries and more. And from their greenhouses this year they’ve been producing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and squash, too. You will find their garden and store straight across the road from the Visitors Centre, open 8am to 7pm April to October.
In Tofino, Green Soul Organics on 4th Street, is your best source for organic products, especially for its wide range of produce. Owner Morgan Callison’s passion for growing and eating organic food is infectious. Even if you don’t normally seek out organic food, her little shop is worth a visit, and the counter staff (often Morgan herself) are all friendly and knowledgeable.
Another source in Tofino is Beaches Grocery, out on the Highway near the North Chestermans turnoff. While not strictly an organic store, they do stock organic products. And both Green Soul and Beaches are open daily and late (Green Soul until 11pm most days, 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays; and Beaches until 10pm)—good to know if you find you need to pick up something after the Co-op has closed.
In Ucluelet, Shearwaters Natural Foods on Peninsula Road is your best source for organic produce. They have a small selection of locally grown produce when in season, as well as other organic produce and groceries. They are open daily year-round until 6pm, except for Sundays.
Finally, while it may be difficult to grow veggies over here on the west side of the island, the east side is lush with produce! If you are in Tofino on a summer weekend, check out the Tofino Public Market, where Ironwood Farms set up every Saturday morning to sell their greens and other garden produce picked that very morning.
- Photos & text by Jacqueline Windh©
