As buying local takes on a sharper focus across Greater Victoria, FED Urban Agriculture is among those with hyper-local options, while supporting food security in the region.
With 1.1 per cent of B.C.’s population working as farm operators, 79 per cent of fruits and 63 per cent of vegetables consumed in B.C. are imported, predominantly from the U.S. and Mexico, the agency noted in a news release.
In 2024, the charity grew beyond 7,400 pounds of hyper-local food in the heart of Victoria, addressing growing concerns over food security. The agency also donated 800 pounds of fresh produce to those in need and fed 54 families through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
The organization’s main growing space – FED Urban Farm acquired last year – has quickly become a hub for community engagement. The farm hosted 38 tours for local non-profits, schools, and businesses last year, and engaged more than 850 community members through educational and team-building initiatives.
The non-profit also backs initiatives such as B.C.’s new food security task force and the Capital Regional District’s recently approved food land access bylaws, which FED says highlights how local food production remains a top priority as food prices rise and tariffs take effect. With the industry facing high agricultural land costs and an aging farming population, initiatives like B.C.’s new food security task force and the CRD’s recently approved food land access bylaws highlight how local food production remains a top priority.
The farm at the foot of the Bay Street Bridge is just one way FED Urban Agriculture works to improve food security. The charity transforms underutilized land into vibrant, productive and sustainable food-growing spaces to help connect Victoria residents with their local food system. Beyond the farm, FED’s rooftop gardens, which provide fresh food for vulnerable populations through Our Place and the Songhees Wellness Centre meal programs, yielded nearly 400 pounds of produce last season.
The CSA 20-week veggie box program offers subscribers a “share” of the 2025 harvest or purchase to support food insecure families in the region.
Learn more online at get-fed.ca.
