Canadian Vegan on An Island in the Time of Tariffs

 

So, you are a Canadian vegan and live on an island during the Time of Tariffs? Fear not! (Firefly generated image)

Living as a vegan family on Vancouver Island while prioritizing local and Canadian-grown food is certainly a challenge, especially considering that only about 6% of the Island’s food is produced locally.  We live midway up the Island, off the East coastal side, in the Comox Valley.

The current tariffs on Canadian goods add another layer of difficulty, making it even more essential to support regional businesses and producers. However, there are a growing number of initiatives and brands that help meet this challenge.

Local Vegan-Friendly Brands & Stores on Vancouver Island

Wanting to continue to eat organic and vegan and, if possible, Canadian or even locally-produced, means reading a lot of labels and probably shopping a little more expensively than before (or a lot more).  Thrifty's, Edible Island, Superstore, and occasionally, Quality Foods, carry some greenhouse produce from Vancouver, and sometimes there are Vancouver Island-based vegan-friendly brands such as:

• Gathering Place Trading (Cortes Island) – Organic spices, teas, and herbs sourced with ethical practices.
• Hornby Organic Energy Bars (Hornby Island) Energy bars
• Eatmore Sprouts (Courtenay) Super Simple. Super Healthy.
• Clever Crow Farm (Black Creek) Spice Mixes, Restaurant, Greens in season

One helpful resource is Island Good, a certification program that highlights products grown and made in the Vancouver Island region. This initiative allows shoppers to easily identify local goods in stores and markets, supporting Island-based farmers and producers.  I do find that they are lacking on the independent health food store listings, like Courtenay's *Edible Island* or Cumberland's *Seeds*. There was also only one restaurant listed. 

Canadian Organic & Vegan-Friendly Products

Many organic vegan products are grown or processed in Canada, though some may contain ingredients sourced from outside the country. Here are some Canadian brands to look for:

• Three Farmers (Saskatchewan) – Roasted chickpeas, lentils, and camelina oil .
• Fresh Start Fauxmage (PEI) – Vegan cashew and almond cheeses .
• Going Nuts (Alberta) – Handmade granolas, nut butters, and energy bars .
• One Degree Organic Foods- (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Global)
• Little Northern Bakehouse – Gluten-free and vegan bread, available in some Island stores.
• BobAli Foods (Vancouver) – Vegan hummus, tapenade, and pesto, found at farmers' markets across BC 
• Silver Hills Bakery (Abbotsford, BC)- Vegan, sprouted breads, buns, and other baking products.
• One Degree Organic Foods (Abbotsford, BC) Sprouted Rolled Oats, and many other products.

Resources for Finding Local & Organic Vegan Food

For those seeking more information on locally sourced and organic vegan food, here are some useful resources:

• Comox Valley Farmers Market- Saturday throughtout the year in Courtenay, and Sunday, seasonal, at Cumberland.
• LUSH Valley Food Action Society- Community-involved and services with innovative programming, advocacy and events; the Good Food box that contains up to 85% of local farms-fresh produce. Office located in Courtenay, serving the ComoxValley.
• Vancouver Island Vegan Association – Local vegan events, businesses, and advocacy.
• Certified Organic Associations of BC – A directory of certified organic farms in British Columbia.
• Made in Canada Directory – A listing of Canadian-made vegan and organic products.
• Comox Valley Vegans on Facebook.
• Books:PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+.Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good ForYou, Your Wallet, and the Planet by Carleigh Bodrug. A Canadian cook-author helping you to to get the best bang for your buck for your organic veggies.
• Canadian Organic Gardening Books: The Zero Mile Diet: A Year-Round Guide to Growing Organic Food by Carolyn Herriot (Vancouver Island-based writing) Also a matching cookbook.
• Food Security for the Faint of Heart: Simple Techniques for Securing Your Food Supply in an Insecure World by Robin Wheeler A West Coast perspective on food security and what to grow.
• Edible Garden Weeds of Canada an old book of my parents (still listed on Amazon.ca) along with a library of other books on foraging,etc. 
• Disclosure: the books listed above are linked to the Amazon.ca associate program. If you purchase using these links you support us through a small referral fee from Amazon. Thanks for your support! There are no additional costs to you.

While challenges remain in sourcing local organic vegan food year-round on Vancouver Island, supporting local initiatives, businesses, and Canadian-made products can help reduce reliance on imported goods and build a more sustainable food system. 

Would you like recommendations on specific products or meal planning ideas based on these local and Canadian ingredients?