History

Glen Valley Organic Farm received its certified organic status in 1992. When the previous owners decided to sell the property there was little interest from potential buyers in keeping the farm in organic certification or growing food for local communities. Given the quality of floodplain soil in the farm's main fields, members of the local community and organic movement felt it was important to find a way to preserve the farmland.

A group of people formed Glen Valley Organic Farm Co-operative and purchased the farm in 1998. Each member of the Co-operative purchased a $5,000 share. This was initially a risky investment for shareholders. No one knew for sure how the farm would operate or whether farm businesses would be sucessful enough to pay the rent required to cover a mortgage and various expenses. In order to secure the farm, some members even took out mortgages on their own homes. Vancity Credit Union eventually mortgaged the farm.

Anticipating the creation of the Co-operative, a farm team had already formed and started growng fruits and vegetables in 1997, leasing the land from the previous owners. These farmers continued to lease the land from the co-operative and formed the core businesses that continue to farm the land to this day.

Over the years of operation a number of different businesses and operations have leased land from the Co-operative. By 2007, the farm's mortgage had been paid off. That same year, the Co-operative welcomed two new farmers who took over responsibility for one of the farm's business leaseholders as the original farmer retired. In 2009 another long-time farmer left to start her own farm in New Brunswick while a new business moved to the farm.