When the noise settles, what really matters?
This reflective January piece explores food that grounds us, community that connects us, and the tracks we choose to follow into the year ahead — from everyday moments to small adventures, online and off. A thoughtful look at how we move forward with intention, care, and curiosity.
When the noise settles, which tracks will you follow?
Kindness, Small Acts, Big Hearts (Without Making It Weird)
A December guide for the beautifully well-intentioned, with just the right amount of fabulous. December on Vancouver Island is a special time. The rain falls sideways, ferries are full of
Give Deliciously: The Heart of Local Gifting
Give joy (and flavour) with local food gifts made right here. Gifts you can slice, drizzle, and devour. Long before fancy wrapping paper and wish lists, people gave what they
Hello Gourd-geous: Your Guide to Fall Food, Local Love & Less Waste
Discover fresh Cowichan Valley food this fall—local produce, meats, and artisanal goods. Learn how to reduce food miles, support farmers, and follow easy food safety tips for safe, wholesome, and flavorful meals every season.
Local Ingredients. Big Wins: Business Made Better
Did You Know? Restaurants, Caterers & Makers Who Buy Local Are Playing It Smart Buying Local is a movement. It’s a business strategy. When restaurants, cafés, caterers, and food makers
From Dirt to Dinner: The (Surprisingly Epic) Journey of Your Local Food
Discover the epic farm-to-fork journey of Cowichan Valley’s local food — and how Cow-Op brings it fresh to your plate. We all love that first bite of a fresh strawberry,
So Many Good Things Growing: Who’s Who and What they Do in Cowichan’s Food & Farming Scene
Cowichan’s food leaders growing local farms, resilience, and food security. If you’re new to the Cowichan local food scene (or even if you’ve been in it for years), it’s easy
Growing Together: Join Us at the Cow-op Plant Sale Fundraiser at Providence Farm! Thursday, May 22nd | 3–6 PM | Providence Farm, Duncan
Spring has officially sprung, and there’s no better way to celebrate the season than by getting your hands in the dirt and growing something delicious. Whether you’re an experienced gardener
Farmers Market Meets Convenient Online Shopping
The Local Cooperative That Supports Cowichan Valley Agriculture. At Cow-op, we believe in strengthening our local food system by connecting our community with the freshest, highest-quality seasonal produce, meats, and
Why Cow-op Loves Sustainable Seafoods
The Michelle Rose fishing boat.
Cow-op In The News! Cow-op Looks To Make Big Strides In 2025
Thank you to the Cowichan Valley Citizen writers and staff for highlighting Cow-op’s efforts in the community. As our non-profit continues to support 90 different Cowichan Valley farms and producers
A Decade of Resilience: How the Cow-op is Cultivating Cowichan’s Local Food Culture
Cow-op staff prepare a local food order for home delivery.
Reflections on This Year
As we bid farewell to 2024, we feel profound gratitude for the unwavering support of our customers. It was a challenging year for Cow-op, but your loyalty and appreciation kept
Save Cow-op: Invest in Local Food, Support Farmers, Strengthen Our Community
The Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace (Cow-op) is at a crucial crossroads. As a non-profit cooperative, Cow-op has been a vital link for local farmers and food producers, providing a reliable
Exploring Garlic Scapes: A Cowichan Valley Specialty
Garlic scapes, the vibrant green stalks that emerge from the garlic bulb in early summer, are a seasonal treat that every food enthusiast should explore. Harvested before they bloom, scapes
Growing Together – Celebrating 10 Years In The Cowichan Valley
Cow-op is turning 10 this year, and we are celebrating a whirlwind decade of supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture. The “Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace” (CVCM) is a producer-owned cooperative
Embracing The Nettle – From Irritating Sting To Nutritional Delight
The irritating sting of the ubiquitous nettle is familiar to most anyone that has been out for a walk in a forest or a field in the Cowichan Valley. But
Cow-op’s Amazing Selection of Frozen Oven-Ready Meals
The products available on our super-local marketplace often change – seasonally – depending on what produce is fresh at the time. If you love eating local food in season, this
Get Growing With Locally Adapted Seeds and Plants
Selection of locally adapted seeds from Cowichan Valley producers.
Cow-op Cooperative Members Are Preserving Summer’s Bounty: A Recipe Featuring Frozen Figs
During the growing season of 2023, our cooperative member producers took on the initiative to preserve more summer bounty by freezing produce that was harvested at peak ripeness. These frozen
Celebrate Food, Love and Valentine’s Day – Seasonally!
Celebrate Food, Love and Valentine’s Day With Seasonally Fresh Cowichan Grown Produce From Cow-op! As the late winter season unfolds, a unique palette of ingredients becomes available, offering a delightful
Cowichan Vegetables Take Center Stage
It is the beginning of a new year and many of us are committing to healthy habits that contribute to an active lifestyle here in the Cowichan Valley. One healthy
Nostalgic Christmas Baking Traditions
Decorated gingerbread houses, sweet cookies, Christmas pudding, and traditional stollen bread. Nothing says Christmas quite like the sweet smell of baking from kitchens around the world. Most of these familiar
Easy Pre-Made Fall Meals
Whenever November rolls around and we get back into our cool weather routines, schedules can become busy with school activities, homework, and work schedules. We are always surprised by how
50km Local Food Diet
Every year Cow-op proudly sponsor a two paged spread in the Cowichan Valley Voice October issue that spotlights our cooperative members! This feature is a aptly called “50km Local Food
Supporting Cowichan Valley Farmers Since 2014
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s the kick off to the holiday season! We hope that you, like us, will be taking full advantage of the abundant fresh
Heirloom Tomatoes and Apples
Heirloom apples ripening on a tree at Fruit Forest Farm in Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island
Unique Local Vegetables To Add To Your Grocery List
Are kohlrabi, patty pans, and fava beans a great mystery to you? Perhaps a bit alien-looking, these veggies are truly delicious. This article will highlight unique locally grown vegetables that
Fantastic Greens of Cowichan Valley: Beet Greens, Mustard Greens, Arugula and Butterhead Lettuce
There are so many different leafy greens grown in the Cowichan Valley, it is worth taking note of the different types!
Local Meat Products For Backyard Summer Barbeques
June is the kick off of summer and with that comes Father’s Day and outdoor gatherings with friends and family as we all enjoy the warm weather of the Cowichan
Locally Grown, Locally Adapted
Locally Grown, Locally Adapted The Cowichan Valley is known for seasonal fresh produce, but did you know that you can also get a variety of locally grown seeds and garden
Cowichan Valley Fresh Eggs All Year Round
Cowichan Valley Fresh Eggs All Year Round
For The Love of Local Food
STAFF PICKS:Loveable Local Food & Hand-Crafted Goods There is nothing quite like the lush green landscape of a garden in full bloom or the bountiful harvest of a fall accompanied
Fresh Start Ahead
Hello 2023! Here at Cow-op, we’re super excited to jump into a fresh new year, and a big part of that excitement is the fresh start we can all make
5 Bright Ideas For A Simply Delicious Holiday Season
Here at Cow-op, we love the holidays and the joy of good food that goes hand-in-hand with the Christmas season. As always, it’s our pride and joy to share our
Thanksgiving Memories
When I was growing up, I remember going to my grandparents’ place in Lake Cowichan for Thanksgiving dinners. Walking in their house, you could smell the fresh pumpkin pie my
Behind the Scenes: Fruit Forest Farms
Fruit Forest Farms was my first ever “site visit” with Cow-op. I went along with my co-worker Laura, who is our Community Facilitator. Fruit Forest Farms is a market garden
Are YOU Ready For Back to School?
Backpacks, Lunches, and Snacks. OH MY! I can’t believe it’s September already. The past two months seem like a complete blur! With September here, it means for most kids, they
Felt like Christmas in August
This week, I was excited to place my first order with Cow-op. I’ll admit, I probably spent an hour going through the website (www.cow-op.ca) to see what the farmers and
Fresh look at an awesome idea
When I started at Cow-op near the end of June, I had absolutely no clue who they were. Well, I knew enough to apply for a job that sounded interesting,