Market Hauls and Local Noms

Here’s a list of my favorite Metro Vancouver farmers market vendors and small businesses, organized by country or region.

BARBADOS

Linton’s Kitchen: A Downtown, False Creek, Riley Park, and Surrey Urban Farmers Market vendor offering innovative spins on Barbados pepper sauce—a Barbadian-style condiment traditionally made with scotch bonnet peppers, mustard, and vinegar. Click here to learn more about the creator, Canadian-Barbadian chef Robert Linton, and the story behind his business.

GREECE

Yumasoy: A Vancouver-based, women-led business offering tasty, marinated, plant-based chicken-style strips known as Om Noms. The name Yumasoy is a nod to CEO and founder Gina Arsens’ Greek heritage and the Greek exclamation ‘Yamas!’, which means ‘to our health.’ Click here to learn more.

INDIA

Gheelicious: A Vancouver-based business and market vendor specializing in homemade, small-batch ghee—a lactose-free form of clarified butter with plenty of health benefits—in classic, sweet, and savory variations. Click here to learn more about founder Sonya and how to incorporate ghee into your life!

Mandair Farms: An Abbotsford-based family farm offering a variety of jams, chutneys, pickled fruits and veggies, as well as local produce and freshly cooked pakoras. Click here to learn more about the Mandair family’s story.

INDIGENOUS

Cedar Feast House Catering: A 100% Indigenous-owned catering company and market vendor specializing in traditional Indigenous cuisine prepared with modern culinary techniques. Founded by Chef Theresa Contois of the First Nation of Turtle Island, the company provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities, women in need of second chances, single mothers, and Indigenous people. Check out their website for more information.

IRAN

Kaaj Chocolate: Kaaj Chocolate: A Vancouver-based craft chocolate company founded in 2020 by four close friends—Fatima, Fakhteh, Mehdi, and Sam. The name ‘Kaaj’ comes from the Persian word for pine tree and symbolizes the founders’ Iranian heritage and their admiration for the Canadian Rockies; a major inspiration behind their work. Click here to learn more.

Tasty Vita: A Burnaby-based business offering all-natural Persian dried fruit snacks. Click here to visit their website.

JAPAN

Beauty Secrets of Japan: a business offering authentic, all-natural Japanese bath and beauty products made in Vancouver. Click here to learn more about the founder, Mami Mizutani, and the story behind her business.

Coconama Chocolate: A beloved market vendor offering an exquisite selection of chocolate bars, barks, and nama—a type of Japanese ganache truffle known for its smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Fun fact: Owners Taka and Kayoko opened Vancouver’s first ganache chocolate shop in 2010. Click here to learn more.

Mugwort Botanicals: A Vancouver-based business offering consultations, herbal teas, and all-natural herbal skincare products. Click here to learn more about Yuuki Tateno, the herbalist and energy healer behind the business.

Origo Foods: A local, family-owned freeze-dried fruit manufacturer offering delicious, gluten-free treats made with 100% real fruit and no preservatives. The business was born out of founder Stone’s efforts to meet his three sons’ snacking needs. Click here to learn more.

MEXICO/INDIGENOUS

Nuez Acres: A women-led, Indigenous-owned skincare brand committed to creating natural, vegan, eco-friendly, and waterless beauty products powered by pecans. Click here to learn more about founders Nancy and Anthony, and the story behind their business.

MOROCCO

Darna’s Moroccan Flavours: A market vendor and catering company offering a diverse range of Moroccan sweet and savory treats, including scrumptious cookies, stuffed breads, seafood pastillas, and tagines, all inspired by founder Chaima’s traditional family recipes. Click here to learn more about Chaima and her business.

NORTH MACEDONIA

Petkov Kiwi Production: A Trout Lake Farmers Market vendor offering pesticide-free kiwis in various sizes, along with kiwi jams made without artificial pectin, colors, or preservatives. Click here to learn more about the owner, George.

PALESTINE/SAUDI ARABIA

Dar Darak Samira’s Kitchen: A market vendor and caterer offering a taste of Palestine and Saudi Arabia in Vancouver. Click here to learn more about Samira, the founder, and the inspiration behind her business.

PHILIPPINES

Twins Donuts: A one-woman business and Trout Lake, False Creek, Kitsilano, and Riley Park Farmers Market vendor offering unique, homemade donuts made fresh daily with light, fluffy brioche dough. These gourmet treats come in a variety of fun savory and sweet flavors, inspired by owner Leslie’s Filipina heritage. Click here to learn more.

SOUTH KOREA

Kultured Method: A small business offering fantastic probiotic, plant-based products starring gochujang—Korean fermented red chili paste. Head to Kultured Method’s Instagram to learn more about the business and founder Emily, a self-proclaimed explorative foodie.

Nutii: A small business offering handcrafted, vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, and preservative-free granolas and snacks made from scratch with all-natural ingredients. Check out founder Eunsoo’s website to learn more.

Soban Organic Farm: A family farm located within the Yarrow Ecovillage, an intentional, member-designed community in Chilliwack, BC, which promotes a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable lifestyle. You can find Soban Organic Farm’s healthy, organically grown produce, as well as handmade Korean sauces and kimchi, at the Trout Lake and Kitsilano Farmers Markets.

BONUS BIPOC BUSINESS PICK

Tempea Natural Foods: Vancouver’s first producer of fresh, unpasteurized tempeh. Made with fermented, certified organic, non-GMO soybeans and green peas sourced from Canada and the US, their tempeh is available at the Trout Lake, West End, Kitsilano, and Riley Park Farmers Markets. Click here to learn more.