Foodies love it, chefs love it and it’s a part of cuisines around the world.
The aromatic garlic — which the Sharing Farm in west Richmond grew about 1,500 pounds of this year — will be the central focus of an annual festival this Saturday.
Garlic Fest is running for the 15th time and the community can come out to buy four different varieties of the bulbous plant — red Russian, chesnock, music and Italian softneck — all grown at the non-profit farm in Terra Nova.
“It’s just such a fabulous food and loved by so many,” said Leslie Williams, executive director of the Sharing Farm, adding, not only is it delicious, it has a lot of health benefits.
The garlic varieties have different qualities: mild to hot, how they age, shelf life, sweetness and clove size.
Garlic is planted at the Sharing Farm in October and the “high-value crop” is harvested in July.
“Garlic is a very important crop to many cuisines and you can grow beautiful garlic here — the soil and climate are very well suited,” Williams said.
“It’s a great crop for us to be able to share with folks who come from a wide range of backgrounds,” Williams added.
Typically, the Sharing Farm sells out of garlic during their annual festival.
But they grow a wide variety of other produce for sale, donations and for events.
They also hold a farm market onsite from Thursday to Saturday and also sell at the Ladner Farmers Market.
The Sharing Farm also donates produce to the Richmond Food Bank, the Musqueam Farmers Market, a free event, and to other non-profits such as Richmond Family Place.
The Sharing Farm is a "community farm," Williams said, and more than 500 volunteers donate thousands of hours annually.
The farm is not just about selling produce, but about working towards addressing food insecurity, she added. They give away about 20,000 pounds of food annually.
“There are a lot of people facing food insecurity in the community, and the Garlic Fest helps to raise money to help us continue that work,” she said.
Some of the garlic-themed food being offered at the festival includes hummus, garlic ice cream, roasted garlic with salad and pork sliders with garlic.
Garlic Fest runs on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In addition to garlicky eats, there will be live entertainment, kids’ activities, unique attractions such as birds-of-prey flying demonstrations and dozens of local farmers, artisans and food vendors.
The Sharing Farm is located at 2771 Westminster Hwy., but onsite parking is limited. Shuttle buses will run from the city’s Operation’s Yard at 5599 Lynas Lane, and from Richmond City Hall at 6911 No. 3 Rd. to Garlic Fest.
Attendees are also encouraged to walk, cycle, take transit or e-scooter to the event. There will be a free bike and e-scooter valet service during the festival.
Admission is by donation, with all proceeds supporting the Sharing Farm’s charitable work.
For more details about the family event, visit the Garlic Fest webpage.
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