Cariboo Growers Co-op: Fresh and delicious food choices all year long

The Cariboo Growers Farmer Co-Op Store opened its doors in April, 2010 with one goal in mind: to provide the community of Williams Lake with delicious locally sourced and organically grown produce. Our store is a not-for-profit co-operative owned by the very same local ranchers and farmers who sell their produce there. We are driven to connect members of the community and beyond to the local food that can be grown here in the Cariboo. As a community co-op, the purpose is to link local consumers with local producers to provide broader access to local foods on a year-round basis. We will always carry local produce first and foremost and will be bringing in items as they come into season for our producers.

All of the producers practise organic or sustainable growing methods. We carry certified organic local and external produce, fruit, meats, honey, cheese, preserves, bread, and other local products such as Cookie Break snacks, Rodear Beef Jerky, juice, and a variety of other organic staples such as seeds and nuts.

Many of you may have noticed we have an increasing amount of product in the store that is not local. Our approach has always been, and always will be, “local first,” but when many locally grown and produced products are not in season or available, as a year-round store, we still want to be able to provide Co-op customers with healthy options and lots of variety. We do this by sourcing products that are from BC as much as possible, and certified organic. This way, we are able to ensure that the products you buy are still regulated for organic production, and from sustainable farming operations, as much as possible. When the local growing season picks up, we will stock local first, every time.

Come by and see our fantastic selection of fresh foods all summer long and support local farmers.

Enjoy the following summer salad recipe with ingredients found at the Growers Co-op.

Co-Op Greek Salad
Ingredients For the Salad 2 Mackin Creek Orchards early girl tomatoes 1 Mackin Creek Farm cucumber 200 grams of Jerseyland organic grass fed feta cheese 2 Calendula and Rocks Farm green onions, finely chopped 1/2 head of Springhouse Gardens romaine lettuce		For the Dressing 1/2 cup of olive oil 2 teaspoons Fraser Bench Farms apple cider vinegar 2 cloves Linger Longer Lodge local garlic 1 teaspoon fresh or dried oregano from Gwynneth Nelson Gardens 1/2 teaspoon fresh or dried thyme 1 teaspoon Vancouver Island sea salt 1 teaspoon lemon juice, squeezedMethod Combine salad ingredients. Combine dressing ingredients and drizzle over salad. Enjoy!