The desire to eat local has never been stronger in communities all around the world. Health conscious citizens are demanding more natural food choices and even mainstream media is driving home the message of sustainability. Rich in culinary diversity, the Comox Valley is a fresh food lover’s paradise. This area is home to vast swaths of productive farmland, a thriving seafood and fisheries industry, award winning artisan cheeses and wines, handcrafted breads, microbreweries, distilleries, dairies, and a wide variety of livestock, including bison, emu, pork, poultry and lamb. And of course, there are all those cherished backyard veggie patches pumping out several tonnes of zucchini annually.
One thing the valley has historically lacked is its own commercial cultured dairy products. For those people (me included) who love yogurt with their fruit and cereal in the morning, or dolloped on their chicken vindaloo, the only option was to have it trucked over from the mainland. At great effort and expense, our yogurt must travel along miles of roadway in a refrigerated fossil fueled truck, ride a ferry through marine mammal habitat, and land in one piece on supermarket shelves still with enough time to consume before the expiry date arrives.
This is all about to change. Based out of Royston, Tree Island Cultured Dairy is bringing its new line of probiotic dairy products to the local market this spring. Island made stirred yogurts, strained yogurts and yogurt beverages are expertly crafted from grass fed Vancouver Island cow’s milk. Simple natural flavors like honey and vanilla bean infuse each rich, creamy spoonful.
Owners Scott and Merrisa have created a quality product to be enjoyed by families much like their own. With two growing boys, family life is focused around the ritual of eating. However, family life that includes two small children is also focused around community. The passionate young proprietors of Tree Island Cultured Dairy want to contribute to the health and well being of their community. Fairly new to the Comox Valley, the family already feels embraced by the welcoming tone of Island living.
Their delicious products are now available in select grocery stores and offered at a host of Community Farmer’s Markets up and down the island. To find out where you can find Vancouver Island’s first yogurt products and try some for yourself, visit their facebook page Tree Island Cultured Dairy and keep an eye out for their website coming soon.
Welcome to the Comox Valley Merissa, Scott and family. Thanks for sharing your inspired vision. Best of Luck in your new adventure.
