Magic soil, not beans

Cincott Farms Organic Market and Café are expanding and plan to open a 70-seat restaurant in August 2011.

Cincott Farms Organic Market and Café sells organic products grown locally or in other areas of B.C. and Alberta. — Photo courtesy Cincott Farms Organic Market and Café

Scott and Cindey Taylor have always been avid gardeners. In 1999, they started a greenhouse, called Cincott Nursery and Market Garden in Hosmer, B.C., about 10 minutes northeast of Fernie. Once the greenhouse was in operation, the couple began selling produce at farmers markets; from there, a natural transition was to open Cincott Farms Organic Market and Café. The market sells a variety of organic products and seasonings and the restaurant's menu features organic soups, vegetables and meat.

“We serve comfort food,” said Scott. "Everything is organic or certified organic for my meat.”

The Taylors have also established working relationships with commercial grocers in Alberta and sell their produce to independent grocers like Sunset Market in Calgary. Unfortunately, because Cincott cannot supply all of the produce needed to stock Extra Foods and Overwaitea in Fernie, the farm is unable to sell to these chain grocery stores. However, the Taylors feel that eating healthy is integral to ensuring one’s well-being and are happy they fell into this niche market in the Elk Valley.

“You are what you eat, and (our food is) healthy food,” said Scott. “My wife always says that we are redneck environmentalists—we just like good food. One hundred years ago this is how people grew food, and we like growing our food that way. You feed the soil, not the plant—which in turn makes all of the area around there healthy.”

Scott said Cincott Farms Organic Market and Café is the only certified organic farm in the Elk Valley, which encompasses the communities of Sparwood, Elkford and Fernie. This year the Taylors have decided to expand the business; they plan to open a 70-seat restaurant in August.