Mary’s Garden
Surrey, British Columbia
Toronto - January 30th, 2022 - Exploring new places is the backbone of our operation here at the Harvest Hunters, so having the opportunity to explore out west was like music to our ears. So you know that our first stop at Maskeen Farms was not going to be the only stop we made. As we drove west down 40 Avenue to our next destination (surrounded by sprawling farmland and more fruit farmers than I have seen per kilometer, like, ever), we saw a sign at the roadside for a place we hadn’t planned on visiting. With absolute pleasant surprise, we made a right into the busy parking lot of Mary’s Garden.
Unlike the last spot where we had the opportunity to have the place to ourselves, Mary’s Garden was bustling that Monday afternoon in July. On the exterior of the red barn, there were stands filled with colorful fruits (mainly berries) as well as boxes filled with home grown vegetables. As I walked into the barn, however, I was enveloped by rows of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other food products, as well as people walking around with baskets filled with items. You could tell that Mary’s Garden serves as the grocery stop for many locals. What we loved most about Mary’s Garden is the way they organized the market - there is cute decor on every surface, and signs at every food item that lists where it was grown or made. This level of transparency builds trust with consumers like no other (spoken like a true marketer, I know).
Celebrating over 55 years in business as a local family farm and store, Mary's Garden is owned and operated by Mary’s son Mike and his dedicated team of staff. Mary's Garden had its humble beginnings in 1966 when Mary and Jack Nootebos began as a small family hobby farm with a roadside stand just down the street from the current location.
Mary's Garden is best known for their vast selection of fresh "picked-daily" vegetables and herbs planted carefully from greenhouse to the fields all season long. Their products include swiss chard, spinach, kale, lettuce, squash, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, gourds, carrots, beets, potatoes, radishes, parsnips, celery, onions, rhubarb, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, and herbs. They offer only the freshest fruit directly from the same Okanagan Orchardist who has been supplying Mary's Garden for years. If it's not grown directly on their farm, Mary's supports local farms first whenever possible. They carry a wide variety of snacks and grocery staples such as free range eggs, dairy products from Island Farms, locally made preservative-free baked goods from Gesundheit Bakery, Summerland Sweets, Little Creek Dressings, and many more local goods to tempt your taste buds!
Mary's Garden is open seasonally from mid-May to early-November. If you live in the area, this place is a no brainer for filling your fridge! For more information before your visit, visit their website.