Canada’s only commercial olive oil farm, located on Salt Spring Island, B.C., is set to be sold through an online bidding process on Aug. 12 as its owner retires.
The 74-acre property, known as “The Olive Farm,” will be offered in two parcels through a one-hour online tender managed by CLHbid.com, with starting bids of $2.19 million per parcel.
The sale marks a transition for a niche agricultural operation that has established a foothold in Canada’s high-end food market, producing extra virgin olive oil used by restaurants across the country and internationally. The farm’s output, which retails for $625 per litre, has consistently sold out and operates with a waitlist, according to a news release.
The property sits in Salt Spring Island’s Fulford Valley, identified after years of research as the only location in Canada with a microclimate suitable for commercial-scale olive production. Owners Sheri Braun and her late husband George Braun developed the operation after searching multiple locations, eventually planting approximately 750 olive trees and building a processing facility on site.
The farm produces what is described as entirely Canadian-grown and produced extra virgin olive oil, with production increasing annually as the trees mature.
Braun is now selling the property as she moves into retirement, with the offering structured to allow buyers flexibility. The first parcel, spanning 36 acres, includes the olive grove along with water features, hay production land, a processing facility equipped to grind and mill olives, irrigation systems, a greenhouse and a small home. The second 38-acre parcel features a two-bedroom residence designed in a Tuscan villa style overlooking Fulford Valley.
The sale has already attracted interest from prospective buyers in Canada as well as several U.S. states, including Colorado, California and Texas, the release said.
Roy Carter, chief executive of CLHbid.com, said the offering combines agricultural production with potential for expansion and residential appeal.
“We’re pleased to support Sheri as she looks to turn her dream project over to a new owner,” said Carter, CEO. “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. The high bidder will also have the option to purchase the farm equipment, the olive mill and malaxing equipment. 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.”
The auction will take place online beginning at 9 a.m. Pacific Time and will run for approximately one hour. The process uses an escalating tender format in which bids extend the closing time if submitted near the deadline, allowing multiple participants to remain active.
CLHbid.com, which was created in 2016 by CLH Law, specializes in online sales of agricultural land across Western Canada. The platform sets minimum starting bids to establish a baseline price and does not disclose bidder identities during the process, with only the successful buyer revealed at closing.
The Salt Spring Island property is located near Fulford Harbour with regular ferry access to Vancouver Island, as well as connections to Vancouver by floatplane and ferry.
The current owner has indicated she hopes the next buyer will continue operating the olive oil business, maintaining production that has positioned the farm as a unique player in Canada’s agricultural sector.
More from Retail Insider:
