Old Airport Gardens
At Old Airport Gardens, the Malm family are very proud to be Lillooet’s farm operation supporting farming in BC. Together, they work hard to provide delicious and nutritious quality fresh food such as tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, melons. Their popular products include their spray-free beefsteak tomatoes which are praised for their size and high quality taste. They also provide a venue for local artisans and crafters to display and sell their products. At Old Airport Gardens customers will also find Highway 12 Soap and Golden Caribou Honey.
Valued clients of Old Airport Gardens come from as far away as Pemberton, Whistler and Vancouver to load up on the fresh, healthy and wholesome food grown on the farm. Their clients directly support farming and the continued growth in the local agricultural industry. Old Airport Gardens is a large operation with over 60,000 tomato plants, 500 fruit trees and several acres of corn and other fresh vegetables.
The Malm family also grows a variety of herbs and flowers on the farm. Expansion plans include adding valued products, increasing lavender production and focusing on the increasing tourism industry. The first annual Halloween pumpkin carving contest was recently held and the Malm’s are excited and look forward to hosting a variety of family activities throughout the year.
Old Airport Gardens provides ongoing support to a changing variety of local Lillooet charities and businesses through donations, wholesale and advertising.
Meet the Malm Family
Meet the Malm Family
Old Airport Gardens is a successful heritage farm. It all started in 1971 when Arnold cleared the land for his future garden site. He began planting the orchard in 1977-1978, and with the help of his friend John Vanderwolf, the market garden sales began in 1982. Arnold and his wife Aggie passed the garden along to their son Bobby and his wife Monica in 2007, and with Danika's help, Old Airport Gardens is now into the third generation of family ownership and operation. At the ripe old age of 86, Arnold continues to take an active role in the field work.
Danika and the rest of the Malm family are proud of Old Airport Gardens. They know that so much work goes into the successful farm operation and Danika is pleased with the variety of high quality products she and her family grow. She joined in the operation of the farm and modernized the family business. "I'm most proud of how much work goes into the planning and planting production. I'm also proud of the support from the locals and our friends."
Danika appreciates the autonomy of being an entrepreneur as well as being a part of the family legacy of positive impact on the local agricultural economy. She knows the business creates an awareness of the importance of agriculture, supports the tourism industry and provides a unique, educational experience for customers and clients.
Danika loves living in Lillooet. When she isn't busy with the family farm she likes to dirt bike, travel, cook and spend time with her family. She is a firm believer in being "content where you are" and Lillooet has the friendly familiar faces and the small town convenience that Danika really appreciates. She believes that Lillooet understands the importance of supporting small businesses and is full of opportunity. Businesses such as Highway 12 Soap, Golden Caribou Honey and the Fort Berens Estate Winery are real assets to Lillooet. There has been a noticeable increase in community pride recently and Danika points to the revitalization of buildings, the mall improvements and the affordable housing project as signs of promise for the future of Lillooet.
