I Didn’t Know Canada Has an Olive Farm
A hidden gem on Salt Spring Island produces the country’s only commercial olive oil — and it just hit the market.
I’ll be honest — when this came across my desk, I had to read it twice. Canada growing olives? Commercially? But it’s absolutely real, and it’s one of those fascinating little discoveries that reminds you how much this country has to offer.
A microclimate like nowhere else in Canada
Tucked into the Fulford Valley on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, sits a 74-acre property known simply as “The Olive Farm.” It’s the only place in all of Canada where the climate is mild and dry enough to support a commercial olive-growing operation — a combination of mild coastal winters, warm summers, and the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean.
The farm was the vision of Sheri Braun and her late husband George, who spent years researching before settling on Salt Spring Island as the one location in the country that could make it work. They sourced cold-hardy Italian olive varieties from a California nursery and planted them on a south-facing property at the base of Mount Maxwell. The first harvest came in 2016 — and it was a success from day one.
$625 a litre — and there’s a waitlist
This isn’t your everyday grocery store olive oil. The Olive Farm’s 100% Canadian-grown extra virgin olive oil retails for $625 per litre, sells out every year, and carries a waitlist. The oil is prized for its exceptionally high polyphenol levels and low acidity — qualities that have earned it a following among award-winning chefs from coast to coast.
A Toronto executive chef was quoted in the National Post describing it as “probably the most unique olive oil I have ever tasted” with “incredible depth with ocean-like seaweed notes and a strong peppery finish.” The Olive Oil Critic called it “a stunning example of what the island tastes like, the terroir poured into a bottle.”
As the 750 trees continue to mature, production is growing year over year — but demand has always outpaced supply.
Watch the video here to see the olive groves, the processing facility and the breathtaking view of this property. clhbid.com/auctions/the-olive-farm
Now, it’s up for sale
The current owner is retiring, and the property is being offered in two parcels via an online escalating tender through CLHbid.com on August 12, 2026.
There’s already international interest from buyers in Colorado, California, and Texas — alongside serious Canadian interest. The current owner’s hope is that whoever takes over will carry on producing this remarkable, made-in-Canada product.
Salt Spring Island — worth knowing about
If you’ve never been to Salt Spring Island, maybe add it to your list. It’s the largest of BC’s Southern Gulf Islands, renowned for its art scene, organic farms, and stunning coastal scenery. Getting there is easier than you might think: just minutes from the Fulford Harbour ferry terminal, with multiple sailings per day to Swartz Bay near Victoria, plus direct ferry service from Vancouver and a 15-minute floatplane from the city. It’s the kind of place people discover once and quietly start researching property.
