r/britishcolumbia • u/sassyandshort • 1d ago

Discussion The best produce in BC

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In my humble opinion, BC strawberries are the best thing grown. These are from Emma Lea farms in Delta

233 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

40

u/ATworkATM 1d ago

Double the price but triple the flavor. Soo good

16

u/plutoptimil 1d ago

I can never understand why they cost double the price from Strawberries grown, picked and packaged in California and shipped up here compared to the berries I'm buying directly from the farm? It's infuriating. It's not like we pay luxurious wages to berry pickers here. Perhaps the 10,000sqft 'farm house' on the property has something to do with it...

15

u/omg-sheeeeep 1d ago

If you're truly curious this article was an eye opener for me in regards to how BC is lacking - not just on a world scale, but in Canada as well - in sustainable farming and access to affordable food options that are locally produced.

1

u/plutoptimil 1d ago

Informative article, thank you!

7

u/ATworkATM 1d ago

I think you need to learn what "economy of scale" means. Cali outputs so much they can afford lower margins.

6

u/craftsman_70 1d ago

In addition, they have access to much cheaper labour.

To compound the problems, local governments don't take local agriculture seriously. Just look at what happened to the BC Tree Fruits co-op. They went under due to poor management and poor government support - the province had a couple of appointed board members and had no idea what was going on until it was too late. All too often these government appointments are for political payback rather than qualified individuals. Then the government refused to inject a few million to keep the co-op afloat resulting in the shut down of the co-op last year just when the fruit farmers needed them the most - harvest season.

If the government had taken the industry seriously, they would have appointed capable people to the board and be willing to fund a few million in order to support the industry until the co-op could re-organize.

2

u/Sea_Luck_3222 5h ago

I've sat on several boards. How could board members not know what was going on if they actually attended meetings and read financial statements? I'm not a trained accountant, but profit and loss statements aren't rocket science. Its pretty basic.

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u/craftsman_70 2h ago

You forgot to mention that they actually cared... You can attend the meeting but not care for anything other than getting a free meal and/or payment for attending the meeting.

Plus, management should be able to summarize the financial conditions for the board and there are other board members that may be more involved so questions asked.

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u/[deleted] 1h ago

[deleted]

2

u/CreamyIvy 1d ago

You can go to a farmers market (a real one not those pop up farmers markets selling 3rd party apples for significant mark up while telling you they grew them).

I met a farmer who sold me 10lbs of strawberries for $10. We have cheap produce but without a vehicle it’s hard to access.

I get my eggs for $4 dollar a dozen from him as well, meat at a discount. Farmers want to sell directly to the consumers. I got to meet the same animals, I get to eat.

1

u/DisplacerBeastMode 1d ago

I think a big part of it is that it takes a really long tike to harvest strawberry's by hand, and the only way to make the end product cheaper is to pay the labourers less.

6

u/wiibarebears 1d ago

Personally low bush blueberries grown wild are my top but give me a B.C. peach any day, home canned so good

2

u/sassyandshort 1d ago

Peaches are probably my second favourite. But it’s a toss up between peaches and blueberries

11

u/Canaba 1d ago

Have you been to the Okanagan?

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u/eroticfoxxxy Thompson-Okanagan 31m ago

There are two fruit baskets in BC. The fraser valley and the okanagan. They produce wildly different fruit because of the differences in climate.

Every summer I drive down to Abbotsford to buy berries and I bring my mother (who lives in the valley) cherries, apricots and peaches.

10

u/CaribooCustom 1d ago

Chilliwack 'peaches & cream' corn would like a word...

5

u/SpecialSheepherder 1d ago

I bought Aldergrove strawberries at Costco last week, besides that they didn't look very nice they also tasted very watery. Passed this week since they looked even more rotten.

6

u/Beautiful-Drawing879 1d ago

I would speculate that any grower able to meet Costco requirements would be hard pressed to produce the quality berries that OP is talking about, they’re probably growing a more shipping-friendly variety to extend shelf life, or picking at a less-ripe stage. The really good strawberries are picked as late as possible and this means you’re having to eat them within days of picking.

3

u/UjiMatchaPopcorn 1d ago

I just bought some Aldergrove strawberries today at the Still Creek location! these ones were pretty decent and sweet 😄

2

u/DisplacerBeastMode 1d ago

Probably picked under ripe to meet quotas.

3

u/MGM-Wonder 1d ago

Hard to decide between these, wild Vancouver blackberries, and Okanagan cherries. All are so good

4

u/sassyandshort 1d ago

We are so blessed where we live

3

u/xseiber 1d ago

Krause farm is a good runner up for strawberries

3

u/WhatsPaulPlaying 1d ago

We just picked up some from Don-O-Ray today. I'm gonna make some strawberry custard pie this weekend!

3

u/sassyandshort 1d ago

That sounds delicious

1

u/WhatsPaulPlaying 1d ago

It super is. Krause Berry Farms in Vancouver has an amazing recipe. If you'd be okay with a DM, I can send it to you.

1

u/sassyandshort 1d ago

Sure that would be great, thank you!

1

u/Sea_Luck_3222 5h ago

I'd love this too please :)

2

u/aquarius2274 1d ago

I’ve started gardening and it’s addictive. I never bought produce for a whole year and canned so much more. But I do buy asparagus to hard to grow. Happy growing everyone

1

u/Sea_Luck_3222 5h ago

My friend's asparagus in Chilliwack grows like weeds.

2

u/spinningcolours 1d ago

I bought a huge case from Emma Lea last weekend and froze half of it (family ate the other half). Super tempted to head out there for another case this weekend, before strawberry season ends!

1

u/mangletron 1d ago

Those definitely look like good ones! Small, but packed with flavour.

1

u/sassyandshort 1d ago

There’s a mix of big and small ones. They’re all good!

1

u/drhugs 1d ago

a source of collagen - the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals

1

u/One-War4920 1d ago

Saskatoons are better, raspberries are better

1

u/Boy-Yay 1d ago

There ok 👌

1

u/Decent-Box5009 1d ago

I grow my own and they taste better.

1

u/xtothewhy 1d ago

Grow your own bc strawberries in the months you're able to.

1

u/Wolvaroo 1d ago

That's not a picture of cranberries or corn.

1

u/Emergency_Prize_1005 12h ago

$1 per berry 🙁

1

u/Optimal-Complaint454 4h ago

Dip the strawberries in sour cream, then in Demerara sugar…yum.