Sustainability at A Taste of Victoria Food Tours
Our Mission
Through innovation, education, and collaboration, we aim to support a healthier, more equitable neighbourhood in Victoria – and to spark positive change in the places our guests call home.
We hope that some of the stories we’ve shared with you on tour have shown how important a more sustainable neighbourhood is to us and to our vendors. If you have questions, ideas, or examples of sustainable practices from your own city, we’d love to hear from you.
When I created A Taste of Victoria Food Tours, I wanted to focus on local Victoria businesses serving local products from Vancouver Island. I wanted to share our vendors’ stories and introduce guests to the passion these folks bring to running small businesses in our neighbourhood.
Over time, I realised that the stories our vendors were telling and the values of our guests often aligned around sustainability. Since then, I’ve spent more time learning about the practices that matter to our vendors in terms of environmental footprint, social responsibility, and economic vitality.
My role is to share those stories and ideas as a collective with our guests. The hope is that through innovation, education, and collaboration, we can inspire change, contribute to a healthier and more equitable neighbourhood, and encourage similar efforts in the communities our guests return home to.
Biosphere Commitment
As of 2024, A Taste of Victoria Food Tours is a Biosphere Committed Company. We’re proud to be part of a program that encourages tourism businesses to operate more sustainably and to continually improve our practices over time.
Learn more at:
https://www.biospheretourism.com/en
Current Vendor Sustainability Practices
Roast Meat & Sandwich Shop / La Pasta
• Compostable takeaway cutlery and packaging
• Reusable cutlery used during the tour
• Participation in the Slow Food movement in Victoria
• Food waste diverted through a compost program
Silk Road Tea
• Compostable products where possible
• Supports tea-growing communities in partnership with local governments
• Fairtrade-certified products
La Roux Patisserie
• Donates leftover products to a local charity
• Uses compostable takeaway containers
Friends and Family Bake
• Participates in the “Too Good To Go” food waste reduction program
• Donates to local food banks (Cool Aid + St. Vincent de Paul)
• Supports an orphanage in the Philippines
Just Matcha Tea Shop
• Uses compostable takeaway products
• Supports local charities
Ayo Eat
• Uses compostable packaging for tour products
• Donates excess tour food to neighbours in need
Roger’s Chocolates
• Certified Fair Trade products
Bard & Banker Public House
• Ocean Wise partner for sustainable seafood choices
Our Mission
Through innovation, education, and collaboration, we aim to support a healthier, more equitable neighbourhood in Victoria – and to spark positive change in the places our guests call home.
We hope that some of the stories we’ve shared with you on tour have shown how important a more sustainable neighbourhood is to us and to our vendors. If you have questions, ideas, or examples of sustainable practices from your own city, we’d love to hear from you.
When I created A Taste of Victoria Food Tours, I wanted to focus on local Victoria businesses serving local products from Vancouver Island. I wanted to share our vendors’ stories and introduce guests to the passion these folks bring to running small businesses in our neighbourhood.
Over time, I realised that the stories our vendors were telling and the values of our guests often aligned around sustainability. Since then, I’ve spent more time learning about the practices that matter to our vendors in terms of environmental footprint, social responsibility, and economic vitality.
My role is to share those stories and ideas as a collective with our guests. The hope is that through innovation, education, and collaboration, we can inspire change, contribute to a healthier and more equitable neighbourhood, and encourage similar efforts in the communities our guests return home to.
Biosphere Commitment
As of 2024, A Taste of Victoria Food Tours is a Biosphere Committed Company. We’re proud to be part of a program that encourages tourism businesses to operate more sustainably and to continually improve our practices over time.
Learn more at:
https://www.biospheretourism.com/en
Current Vendor Sustainability Practices
Roast Meat & Sandwich Shop / La Pasta
• Compostable takeaway cutlery and packaging
• Reusable cutlery used during the tour
• Participation in the Slow Food movement in Victoria
• Food waste diverted through a compost program
Silk Road Tea
• Compostable products where possible
• Supports tea-growing communities in partnership with local governments
• Fairtrade-certified products
La Roux Patisserie
• Donates leftover products to a local charity
• Uses compostable takeaway containers
Friends and Family Bake
• Participates in the “Too Good To Go” food waste reduction program
• Donates to local food banks (Cool Aid + St. Vincent de Paul)
• Supports an orphanage in the Philippines
Just Matcha Tea Shop
• Uses compostable takeaway products
• Supports local charities
Ayo Eat
• Uses compostable packaging for tour products
• Donates excess tour food to neighbours in need
Roger’s Chocolates
• Certified Fair Trade products
Bard & Banker Public House
• Ocean Wise partner for sustainable seafood choices