The Old Farm Market, located at 5164 Francis St. just south of Duncan, has been voted as the Best Place to Buy Produce in the region in the Cowichan Valley Citizen's sixth annual Best of the Valley awards.
Chris Steel, general manager of The Old Farm Market, which has two more stores in Courtenay and Oak Bay, said the market has won the category in past years, but he’s always happy to see the store a winner again.
He said what’s most impressive about this award is that it’s the people that decide and not just some anonymous board somewhere, and that makes it more authentic.
“I remember growing up in Victoria and seeing businesses winning these types of contests and it always registered with me, so it’s pretty cool that The Old Farm Market has won another competition,” Steel said.
“It’s a huge honour. We make a show of it with our staff with gift cards and other gifts when we win an award like this. After all, it is a combined effort that’s all about collaboration and not just one staff member.”
The Old Farm Market prides itself in not being a corporate entity, and offering high quality and low-cost produce to its customers.
Steel said that when the business began 36 years ago, it started as a wholesale business based on volume so the produce could be sold at lower prices.
“We continue to bring that model to the table at all our locations,” he said.
