Drive east on Highway 1 past Abbotsford and the landscape opens up. The Coast Mountains press in from the north, Mount Baker floats on the southern horizon, and between them lies some of the richest agricultural land in British Columbia. This is Chilliwack -- a city of roughly 100,000 people that still feels, in the best possible way, like farming country.
The farm stands here are not tourist attractions dressed up with Instagram walls and overpriced mason jars. They are working operations run by families who depend on the sale. Some have been here for decades. Others are newer, but rooted in the same ethic: grow it well, sell it honestly, and let the product speak for itself. Here are ten worth knowing about.
1. Hofstede's Country Barn
Location: 45796 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack
Hofstede's is the kind of place where you walk in for a carton of eggs and walk out forty-five minutes later with a bag full of things you did not know you needed. Part farm market, part specialty grocer, part deli -- the store stocks local seasonal produce alongside imported cheeses, cured meats, and specialty items you would struggle to find anywhere else in the valley. Their bakery turns out house-made soups in eighteen rotating varieties each week, along with pies and pastries that disappear by noon on Saturdays. The in-house cafe is a welcome excuse to linger.
View on Neighbourgoods2. Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farm
Location: 49350 Prairie Central Road, Chilliwack
The Forstbauer family has been farming organically on Prairie Central Road long before "organic" became a marketing term. This is a certified organic operation focused on natural food production -- grains, produce, and farm products grown without synthetic inputs. Their on-farm store is small and unpretentious, but the quality is exceptional. If you are the kind of person who reads ingredient labels and cares about soil health, the Forstbauers are your people. Ask about their growing practices. They are happy to talk about it, and you will learn more in ten minutes here than in a week of reading blogs.
View on Neighbourgoods3. Klaassen Farms
Location: 5825 Lickman Road, Chilliwack
Klaassen is the name that comes up first when Chilliwack locals talk about blueberries. This family-owned farm on Lickman Road has been growing them for years, and their U-Pick fields are a summer institution -- the kind of outing where you bring the kids, fill a few buckets, and eat twice as many berries as you bring home. The farm store stocks fresh and frozen berries year-round, along with roadside stands during peak season. If you are visiting between July and August, this is the place.
View on Neighbourgoods4. Chilliwack River Valley Natural Honey
Location: 43476 Adams Road, Chilliwack
This family-run apiary has been raising bees since 1979. Their country store on Adams Road sells raw, unpasteurized, minimally filtered honey in varieties that reflect the seasons and the surrounding wildflower meadows. The operation is CFIA-approved and certified kosher, and they will let you taste before you buy -- which is how you discover that clover honey and wildflower honey are entirely different experiences. Beyond the jars, they stock fresh frozen pollen, propolis tincture and cream, royal jelly, and beeswax candles. You can also find their honey at the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver.
View on Neighbourgoods5. Anita's Bread and Coffee
Location: #615-44688 South Sumas Road, Chilliwack
Anita's mills their own organic grains on-site -- a distinction that puts them in rare company among bakeries anywhere in the province. Head baker Mark Hart turns that flour into loaves with the kind of crust and crumb that make you reconsider what bread can be. The cafe attached to the bakery is small and warm, the sort of place where you sit with a coffee and a fresh pastry and lose track of time. If you only visit one bakery in Chilliwack, make it this one.
View on Neighbourgoods6. Greendale Acres
Location: 48250 Chilliwack Central Road, Chilliwack
Tucked into the Greendale area south of the Trans-Canada, Greendale Acres is a family farm that leans into the experience side of farming without losing the substance. The U-Pick is the draw -- berries in season, with the kind of quiet, uncrowded picking that larger operations cannot offer. The Greendale area itself is gorgeous: flat farmland framed by mountains, quiet roads, the kind of place where you slow down whether you mean to or not. Call ahead or check their social media for availability, as hours are seasonal.
View on Neighbourgoods7. Brightside Eggs
Location: Evans Road, Chilliwack
Brightside keeps it beautifully simple. Their hens are fed a vegetarian organic diet free from GMOs, and the certified organic brown eggs are hand-graded on the farm. No storefront, no cafe, no gift shop -- just an on-farm vending machine stocked seven days a week. Card and mobile payments only. You drive up, tap your card, grab your eggs, and leave knowing exactly where they came from. The eggs come in all shapes and sizes, and you might get lucky with a double yolker.
View on Neighbourgoods8. Smits and Co.w Farm Cheese
Location: Chilliwack
There is nothing quite like buying cheese in the same building where it was made, and Smits and Co.w offers exactly that. This family-owned and operated cheese plant produces traditional gouda in several flavours -- from mild and creamy young wheels to sharp, crumbly aged varieties. The farm store has a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, sample a few wedges, and talk to the family about their craft. Dutch cheesemaking traditions, Chilliwack milk, and generations of know-how. The result speaks for itself.
9. The Farm Store in Yarrow
Location: Yarrow (on the route to Cultus Lake)
If you are heading to Cultus Lake, detour through Yarrow and stop here first. The Farm Store sits on a working duck farm, which should give you some idea of the kind of operation this is: small, authentic, and stocked with things you will not find at a chain grocery store. Smoked meats, artisanal cheeses, handmade preserves, specialty sauces, exotic meats, and ready-to-cook meals fill the shelves. It is the sort of place where you come for one thing and leave with a bag full of provisions for the weekend.
10. The Local Harvest Market
Location: Chilliwack
The Local Harvest Market combines a working farm market with something you do not see every day: farm tours featuring alpacas and pigs. The market itself stocks organically grown vegetables and fruits, and a wood-fired oven turns out pizza and bread that alone would justify the trip. But it is the combination -- grab your groceries, eat a wood-fired pizza, then walk the grounds and meet the animals -- that makes this place stand out. It is a genuine farm experience wrapped in a market, and one of the more memorable stops on any Chilliwack food tour.
Tips for Visiting Chilliwack Farm Stands
- --Check seasonal hours. Many farm stands operate seasonally or have reduced winter hours. A quick call or website check before you drive out saves disappointment.
- --Bring cash and card. Most stands accept cards now, but a few smaller operations still run on the honour system. Come prepared for both.
- --Arrive early. The best selection -- especially for berries, eggs, and baked goods -- goes fast. Morning visits pay off.
- --Bring your own bags. Some stands provide bags or containers, but bringing your own is always appreciated and better for the environment.
- --Follow the Circle Farm Tour. Chilliwack is part of the Fraser Valley Circle Farm Tour, a self-guided driving route that connects farms across the region. Pick up a map or check the route online to plan a full day.
- --Talk to the farmers. Ask what is in season, how to store what you buy, or what is coming next week. These people know their products better than anyone, and most of them genuinely enjoy the conversation.