Organic Vegetable farming in Hong-couver

I have been learning a little about organic vegetable farming from two young farmers who have recently moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong.  There are so many HongKongers here that some have started calling it Hong-couver.  One estimate says that there were 500,000 ethnic Chinese here, among a population of 2.5 million in 2016.  The number has certainly risen since then. 

Despite the heavy presence of the Chinese, Vancouver is not Hong Kong.  The weather, soil, economy, social customs, even the way people shop for groceries are all different.  Hence the farming experience from Hong Kong cannot simply be transported here.  Which can be good or bad.  

One of the biggest challenges that farmers of organic produce face in Hong Kong is distribution.  The organic vegetables are typically grown on small plots in the New Territories, in Sheung Shui, Fan Ling, Yuen Long, etc.  But the consumers live in the city and shop for groceries in the supermarkets and wet markets near their homes.  Various schemes to bring the vegetables to the consumers have been tried, and continue to be tried.  But the costs in terms of time and transportation prove to be difficult. 

Here the situation is quite different.  Vegetables familiar to the Chinese dinner table are available from supermarkets.  But mass produced Chinese vegetables are typically inferior in quality, taste, sustainability and other aspects.  There are small shops selling organic produce. 

Organic vegetables seem more popular here.  Most people have their own cars, and are used to driving around the city and beyond.  They probably wouldn’t mind to drive a reasonable distance to buy attractive organic Chinese produce. 

Organic vegetable can be grown in backyard gardens, and  plots of various sizes all over the city.  Farmers’ markets, which brings farmers and consumers together, are also popular.  But a cursory glance at a farmer’s market found few, if any, organic Chinese vegetables.  Perhaps there is a window of opportunities?  A farmer’s market that specialises in Chinese vegetables?  Perhaps some other innovative methods to connect the farmer with the consumer?  I have to confess I know very little.  But there is a sense that opportunities are available.