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Eager for a Taste of the Fraser Valley?

Circle Around: Succulent jams and golden honey.  Farm-aged cheeses and hand-crafted ice cream.  If these tasty treats top your weekly grocery list, then perhaps it’s time to forgo the supermarket in favour of a far more earthy, out-of-doors experience.  Think of it as seasonal shopping, BC-style.  And thanks to an array of self-guided Circle Farm Tours of BC’s Fraser Valley, all that’s required is a full tank of gas, a Circle Farm Tours map and plenty of trunk space to gather your grabs. Where to start?  A hop, skip and a jaunt away from Vancouver’s hub…and hello Vista D’oro Farms.  Just east of the city in Langley, Vista D’oro has mastered the art of artisanal preserves, marrying in-season fruits with a variety of tasty flavours.  Blueberry and Bourbon, anyone?  Also in Langley, seek out scenic and scented excursions at Full-Bloom Farm (think: lavender treats for the senses).  Keep travelling east to Abbotsford, and flourish amid lush Tanglebank Country Gardens, stop in for a few licks at Birchwood Dairy or indulge in a few chef creations at Restaurant 62.  Nearby Chilliwack is all about choice; you could find yourself checking out the offerings at Greendale Pottery & Country Guest House, sampling the wares at Rustic Soap Co., or buzzing about at Honeyview Farm.  And there’s plenty more by way of specialty farm-gate vendors, artisans, open air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, fairs, and other special events (six Circle Farm Tours for a total of 61 stops, to be precise).  Can’t make it to the farm?  Drop by Edible British Columbia’s signature shop on Granville Island for a taste of all things BC. Time to set your GPS for the Fraser Valley.  www.circlefarmtour.com