Gathering Place Trading Company

VOICE (V): How did Gathering Place Trading come about? 

 

Lovena(L): It all began 21 years ago when we were organic farmers traveling in South Africa with our VW camper van and two of our children. While journeying through the Cederberg Mountains, the origin of Rooibos, we got lost and asked for directions. Through our conversations, we discovered an organic Rooibos farm and decided to detour and visit. The farm's owners invited us to enjoy a cup of tea, and it was the best Rooibos we had ever tasted! We decided to import their tea to Canada, but with one condition: they wanted to trade a ton of their tea for our VW camper van! This unconventional trade became the foundation of our family business.

Though we were unfamiliar with the tea-selling business, we were fortunate that the tea took 60 days to arrive in Canada by freight, giving us time to return home and prepare for business before it arrived. We started selling 100g bags of Rooibos tea on Cortes Island, and that's how it all began.
Following Rooibos, we introduced sea salt. Our sea salt is sourced from the Antarctic Ocean. The pure ocean water travels through a natural filtration system of ancient seashell beds and sand into a rare geological phenomenon—a saltwater aquifer. It is hand-harvested, sun- and wind-dried, and free of microplastics. We found this salt by chance, as it was geographically close to where the Rooibos came from.

Two years later, we ventured into spices. We wanted to create Rooibos Chai, but when seeking spices from wholesalers, we found that nobody could provide answers about the country of origin, harvest date, or the ethical and sustainable practices of the products. This prompted us to seek direct sources for all our spices. Having direct sources meant higher quality, fresher products, and our customers noticed the difference. Soon, our spices began to outsell our initial offerings.

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V: What's your approach to finding and building relationships with small-scale farmers globally?

 

L: We hunt down the most ethical, small scale farmers and community sourcing partners through extensive research and, at times, by following a grassroots approach when we visit a country and trace the trail of breadcrumbs. Except for a few newer suppliers, we have met all the farmers and producers we partner with in person. With the Rooibos tea farmers, we have become family friends. We stay in their home and share meals with their family. Our email correspondence often begins with personal notes like, "How is the family?" or "How are your grandchildren?" I love that! We strive to develop these genuine connections because they foster integrity and allow us to do what feels natural, caring about people. Our work is artisanal and purposeful, connecting people and shrinking the global food supply chain while highlighting the sources of our products. One of our company pillars is, "From Farmer to Family, for the Love of the Earth." Everything we do is guided by this principle.

 

V: How did the 'Love of the Earth' value come to define your life?

 

L: I grew up in a typical suburb of Windsor, Ontario. As I began traveling, I discovered how much the world differs from what I had known. Traveling opened my eyes to these differences, even more so when I met other travelers and heard their stories and experiences. I believe that every person you meet and each experience is for a reason. Through travelling I discovered myself and found that everything is interconnected, particularly in the natural world. Nature became my teacher and the foundation of my life philosophy and attitude.

On my third overseas trip to Australia in 1996, I met my husband when I set up my tent next to his. It was fate! We were married just four months later, and together, embarked on this adventure, sharing the same passion and a deep love for the Earth.

 

V: What's the story behind the name 'Gathering Place'?

 

L: We were once called Gathering Place Organic Farm, a name that reflected our farm's role as a true gathering place for people. We had a variety of young people live on the farm, hosted many farm volunteers and held numerous gatherings. With our spice company, Gathering Place Trading Company, we felt a similar sense of connection. We are now gathering products and ingredients from around the world and inviting people to join us at a global table. 

 

V: How do you find the community on Cortes Island?

 

L: It has been 22 years since we moved to Cortes, and I still feel a strong sense of community here. People are deeply connected and committed to living harmoniously with the Earth. Community members support each other during times of need and for a small community we have a vast array of non-profits and organizations doing great work. It’s also nice to have access to Hollyhock, an island retreat center known for its core values of community, connection, and impact. I’m lucky to have consistently participated in the Social Venture Institute (SVI), which supports our intentional business growth. 

 

V: Can you tell us more about your Canadian-grown herbs and spices?

 

L: We made a conscious decision to avoid importing anything that is grown and available in Canada, even if it means higher costs. For green herbs, we could have sourced cheaper thyme, oregano, dill, sage, and basil from elsewhere, instead, we buy from a multi-generational, certified organic family farm in Alberta. Although this costs many times more than imported commodities, we understand and believe in supporting Canadian farmers who work hard to harvest and process these herbs. The bay and rosemary in our line of Canadian culinary herbs come from our property or other small homesteads on Cortes.

By selling all Canadian-grown products, we not only educate consumers but also highlight the ‘support local businesses even if it costs more philosophy’. Our herbs are always from the current year's harvest and are vibrant and bright green. Many customers comment that they taste as if they were picked just yesterday!

 

V: What changes would you like to see in the Canadian food system?

 

L: I would say that the most significant shift needed is a move towards organic farming and away from genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods lack sustainability because they undermine our ancient right to save seeds and rely heavily on chemicals. In contrast, embracing organic farming represents the exact opposite. By focusing on building soil health, avoiding chemicals, and nurturing the land, organic farming improves our agricultural system and supports long-term sustainability.

 

V: What's the long-term vision for Gathering Place Trading?

 

L: We moved into a new facility in Campbell River in January and have grown our team as we continue to expand nationwide. We plan to continue growing our product lines, with new offerings such as Tulsi tea, including Turmeric Tulsi and Chai Tulsi, We are also expanding our spice line to include more blends, as we recognize that customers enjoy this convenience with little time to create their own. We are developing new blends like Gingerbread Spice, Herbes de Provence and some Sea Salt and Spice combos.

A major accomplishment for us this year is achieving our HACCP/GMP certification, which represents a higher standard of food safety and quality management. This globally recognized certification will enhance our exports and appeal to major retailers like Whole Foods. Looking ahead, who knows what the future holds? We keep following our hearts!

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