The fields in Sumas Prairie are budding with rows of vibrant, green hops to accommodate an exploding craft beer industry. Before the craft beer scene, decades ago, hop fields covered the Fraser Valley, but due to low demand, the hop crops were replaced. Today, they have come back full circle and are even celebrated at festivals like BC Hop Fest. Abbotsford’s climate with fertile soil and gentle breezes makes it one of the best hop-growing environments in the Pacific Northwest. See this short clip on how hops are harvested, right in time for the BC Hop Festival. The Hop History From 1902-1950, [...]

Long summer days are on the horizon which means more time for a leisurely journey through the countryside. And what better way to truly explore the country and Abbotsford’s deep agricultural roots than through a self-guided Circle Farm Tour Plan your day Created as a way for locals and visitors to explore working farms and purchase their food from the source, Circle Farm Tour is now in its 14th year and has expanded to five different communities. Although the tour was designed to be self-guided, Brookside Boutique Tours does offer a bus tour complete with driver for groups of up to 14 people. [...]

From winter spiced cider to fresh greens and florals, there are so many local products to enjoy this season.  To help you find unique gift items or artisan foods to put on your table this holiday season, we invite you to come explore Abbotsford’s Circle Farm Tour. Here are ten ways you can celebrate the bounty of the Fraser Valley with our local producers. 1. Fruit Wines from Maan Farms Estate Winery For the wine lover on your list (or for you) is fruit wines from Maan Farms Estate Winery. Start with a visit to their tasting room, a place where [...]

From meeting farm animals to learning about where our food comes from, kids are sure to love these agri-educational experiences. Get back to basics and connect with the land by exploring one of our local Abbotsford Circle Farm Tour partners. Bring the farm inside at EcoDairy Explore the science behind farming in the state-of-the-art Discovery Centre and dairy barn. Watch the robot milker in action and learn all about where dairy products come from with the help of a knowledgeable tour guide. Outdoors, there is even more to explore! See the goats on the roof, say hello to the pigs, calves, turkeys and [...]

For five years Masa and Yukiko Shiroki have farmed rice paddies in Abbotsford. In the summer if you venture behind EcoDairy off Sumas Way, you’ll find the husband and wife team knee-deep in the flooded fields, weeding. “It’s day-in day-out weeding until September,” said Masa. Although possible to weed the four acres using specialized machines imported from Japan, the Shiroki’s must also spend time hand planting rice in areas where the ducks and geese have feasted, leaving notable gaps. “It’s part of the game” he said, explaining birds love eating the rice seed in the spring but once they migrate [...]