Canada's only commercial olive farm, a 74-acre property on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, will be sold online via CLHbid.com on August 12 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The property, known as "The Olive Farm," produces extra virgin olive oil that retails for $625 per litre and is used in high-end restaurants across Canada and beyond. Owner Sheri Braun is retiring and selling the property in two parcels, each with a starting bid of $2.19 million.
Unique Microclimate Enables Olive Cultivation
Salt Spring Island's Fulford Valley is the only location in Canada with a microclimate mild and dry enough to support a commercial olive farm. After years of research, Sheri Braun and her late husband George Braun searched numerous locations before settling on this south-facing property at the base of Mount Maxwell. They planted 750 olive trees and set up a processing facility. Today, the farm produces a highly prized extra virgin olive oil that always sells out with a waitlist, and production is increasing annually as the trees mature.
Property Details and Sale Structure
The property will be sold in two parcels via a one-hour online escalating tender on CLHbid.com. The first parcel, 36 acres, features the olive grove, a creek, waterfall, hay production, a modern shop with equipment to grind and mill olives, irrigation, a greenhouse, and a small home. The second parcel, 38 acres, includes a Tuscan villa-style two-bedroom home with views overlooking the Fulford Valley. Both parcels can be previewed online at CLHbid.com. The high bidder will also have the option to purchase the farm equipment, olive mill, and malaxing equipment.
Interest from Across North America
The sale is drawing interest from prospective buyers in Canada, Colorado, California, and Texas. "We're pleased to support Sheri as she looks to turn her dream project over to a new owner," says Roy Carter, CEO of CLHbid.com. "The olive production is increasing annually as the trees mature and the property's plentiful irrigation and unused land provides additional opportunities to scale-up production." Carter added, "Given that this sale is offering 74 beautiful green acres in one of the world's most desirable locations, along with one of Canada's most comfortable climates, we expect tremendous interest from across North America from people looking to carry on Sheri and George's impressive legacy and business, and anyone simply looking for a spectacular place to live."
Location and Accessibility
Salt Spring Island is the largest and most visited of the Southern Gulf Islands, renowned for its art scene, organic farms, and rugged coastal views. The property is located five minutes from Fulford Harbour, where BC Ferries makes eight sailings per day to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal near Victoria on Vancouver Island. Access can also be gained via floatplane in just 15 minutes from Vancouver, and there is a direct ferry from Vancouver to Long Harbour.
