24 Ways To Enjoy Local Produce This Summer

Blueberries, and corn, and peaches, oh my! Summer is here and that means there are all sorts of delicious options when it comes to locally grown produce in British Columbia. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites below, along with recipe inspiration. If you’d like a more exhaustive list of the delicious options available, check out this resource from BC Association of Farmers’ Markets.  

Stone Fruit 

Nothing says summer like biting into a juicy, sweet, Okanagan peach—right? From peaches, to cherries, apricots, plums, and nectarines, there are plenty of options to enjoy during this short season.

Grilled Peach Crostini
End of Summer Vanilla Plum Cake
Stone Fruit Salad

Summer Squash

Unlike most winter squash, summer squash have a thin edible skin. While green and yellow zucchini are the most popular, a stop at your local farmers' market will likely show you a few more varieties, like pattypan or grey squash. 

Creamy Cherry Tomato & Summer Squash Pasta
Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Italian Stuffed Patty Pan Squash

Berries

Globalization means that we now have access to fresh berries at almost any time of year, but berries that have travelled across the world in the winter are a pale imitation of the flavourful local berries available in the summer! Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, gooseberries, strawberries, tayberries, and more. 

Arugula Salad with Berries
Chef Harold's BC Blueberry Muffins
Any Berry Galette

Corn

If you’ve ever watched cars line up at the corn stands in the Fraser Valley, you know that British Columbians enjoy fresh local corn almost as much as techies love the newest iPhone. There’s just something about those sweet, tasty kernels that makes lining up for the freshest batch worthwhile. 

Grilled Corn Salad with Tomato and Avocado
Easy Corn Fritters
Bang Bang Corn

Greens

Whether you're making a giant caesar salad with romaine for a backyard BBQ, sautéing some finely chopped swiss chard with garlic, or topping a pizza with arugula, local greens are the way to go. Our temperate climate on the coast is great for growing greens! 

Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Herbed White Beans
Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Watermelon Arugula Salad

Brassicas

You may not have heard of them called brassicas before, but you’ve certainly eaten them. This family of plants includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, radishes, and more! 

Kale Pasta Sauce 
Broccoli Salad
BBQ Cauliflower Steak with Chimichurri

Potatoes

Often considered a heartier winter vegetable because of their storability, potatoes in BC actually begin their season with the warba variety in late spring and early summer. New potatoes, like the warba variety, have a higher moisture content, so they're not great for storage, but they make the perfect addition to your favourite potato salad recipe. 

Potato Garlic Scape Soup
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Nugget Potatoes with Cream Garlic and Dill

Tomatoes

Thanks to hothouses, we have access to locally grown tomatoes for an extended growing season in BC. But the variety and intensity of flavour that the hot summer sun brings out in tomatoes is next level! 

Heirloom and Cherry Tomato Salad
Summer Gazpacho
Caprese Roasted Asparagus