Fruit Stands & Orchards

WELCOME TO FRUIT STAND CAPITAL OF CANADA & ORGANIC FARMING CAPITAL OF CANADA

Enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables in Keremeos, the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada, and Cawston, the Organic Farming Capital of Canada, where a unique semi-arid climate, long sunny days, and cool nights create ideal growing conditions for exceptional flavour and natural sweetness. Highway 3 is lined with family-run stands and markets offering orchard fruit, field-grown vegetables, and a wide range of local products including preserves, hot sauces, vinegars, juices, honey, baking, samosas, and other ready-to-enjoy foods. It’s easy to build a picnic along the way, whether stopping at a nearby orchard or vineyard, or while staying at a vineyard, orchard, motel, RV park, or campground. Seasonal variety is abundant, from dozens of types of tomatoes, peppers, and apples to fall displays of pumpkins and gourds, including heritage varieties like the Ambrosia apple first discovered in the region.

Many of these roadside stands have been part of the valley for generations, creating a vibrant, ever-changing stretch of Highway 3 between Keremeos s and Cawston. The best way to experience it is simply to follow the season from stop to stop.

Explore at your own pace the Similkameen Valley Farm Trail, a self-guided route through orchards, farm stands, and seasonal harvests. For the full agriculture experience, the Sip the Similkameen pairs perfectly, connecting the valley’s wineries, cideries, and distillery stops with its farms and farm-to-table eateries. Together, they offer a complete taste of the Similkameen—from fresh seasonal produce to crafted beverages shaped by the same landscape.

For a full list of Fruitstands & Orchards, review the list at the bottom of this page or visit the business directory Fruit Stands & Orchards.

Fruit Stands & Orchards

In the spring, you’ll already find produce at our open-air markets. You’ll also see orchards awash with blooms. Step out of your car, and you can smell the freshness of just-picked fruit and vegetables perfuming the air. Grab a basket and start loading up on whatever is in season. Don’t be surprised if you bump into a grower or two. They’ll be more than happy to point out what’s just been picked and delivered that morning.

More than Produce

You’d naturally expect fruit and veggie stands to sell just that very thing! Some of our markets are a little bit exotic and are representative of our community. You can purchase East Asian fashions, Indian pakoras, homemade samosas and a full range of curries. Taste the flavour of the valley in our tree-ripened fruit pies at fruit stands and roadside markets. Be sure to pick up a jar of Orchard Blossom Honey, a Similkameen staple gracing tables for more than 50 years. Taste just-made jams, fresh fruit preserves and chutneys for a sweet sample of the Similkameen.

Choosing Produce from Fruit Stands & Orchards

When choosing your produce, go by ripeness, weight, and how far you have to drive to get them home.  This ensures your fruits and vegetables retain their freshness, no matter when they’ll be canned or cooked.

Organic Farming Capital of Canada

Sustainable farming is important to the food cultivators of the Similkameen. Earning the title of Canada’s Organic Farming Capital isn’t a feat to be scoffed at. Over 40% of our farms are organically certified, with that number growing every year! We grow over 200 kinds of peppers, more than 30 different field-grown heirloom tomatoes, several different types of cherries, pumpkins, and corn. And we also grow just about every type of tree fruit you can imagine. Many farmers sell right from their gate with a smile on their faces. If they don’t, you can always hit a fruit stand to find their bounty. So stop by to see what’s been freshly harvested.

Another thing the Similkameen is famous for is our own sweet Ambrosia apples. They were discovered in an orchard in Cawston. The tree had grown from a chance seedling and produced a crisp, sweet apple that was slow to brown. Our culinary pioneers first cultivated this seedling right here in the valley. Since it was first discovered in the 1990s, people have fallen in love with it. As a result of its popularity, the Ambrosia apple is now available around the world.

Whether you’re building a picnic for your calorie-burning hike or a savoury repast for your winery tour, it’s easy to satisfy your craving for fresh from the garden goodness right here in the Similkameen.

Tasting Notes