At BarBurrito, we believe that great food starts with great ingredients. Since our founding in 2005, we've been committed to sourcing the freshest, highest-quality ingredients for our menu. Today, we're pulling back the curtain to introduce you to some of the dedicated farmers and suppliers who help make our burritos, bowls, and tacos so delicious.
Our Sourcing Philosophy
Before we introduce our suppliers, it's important to understand the principles that guide our sourcing decisions:
- Freshness First: We prioritize fresh ingredients prepared daily in our restaurants.
- Local When Possible: We aim to source from local suppliers when seasonality and availability permit.
- Sustainability Matters: We partner with suppliers who share our commitment to environmentally responsible practices.
- Quality Over Everything: We never compromise on the quality of our ingredients, even if it means paying more.
- Long-Term Relationships: We believe in building lasting partnerships with our suppliers.
Meet Our Produce Partners
The crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and zesty onions that form the foundation of our fresh toppings come from dedicated produce partners across Canada.
Greenfield Farms
Location: Holland Marsh, Ontario
Partnership Since: 2007
Supplies: Romaine lettuce, onions, peppers
Greenfield Farms is a family-owned operation that has been farming in the fertile Holland Marsh area for three generations. Their commitment to sustainable farming practices, including water conservation and integrated pest management, aligns perfectly with our values.
"We take pride in growing vegetables the right way—with care for the land and an eye toward the future," says Maria Greenfield, who runs the farm with her brother Paolo. "Working with BarBurrito has allowed us to expand our sustainable farming practices while knowing our produce is appreciated for its quality."
SunRipe Tomatoes
Location: Leamington, Ontario
Partnership Since: 2010
Supplies: Tomatoes, tomatillos
SunRipe specializes in greenhouse-grown tomatoes that deliver consistent quality and flavor year-round. Their controlled growing environment allows them to use 80% less water than traditional farming while producing tomatoes with exceptional taste.
"The greenhouse approach lets us extend Canada's growing season and reduce the carbon footprint associated with importing," explains SunRipe's head grower, Thomas Wu. "We deliver vine-ripened tomatoes to BarBurrito within 48 hours of harvest, ensuring peak freshness."
Fresh avocados being prepared for our housemade guacamole
The Avocado Story
Our signature guacamole is a customer favorite, and it all starts with perfect avocados. While avocados can't be grown commercially in Canada's climate, we've partnered with suppliers who share our commitment to quality and sustainability.
AvoFresh Imports
Location: Toronto, Ontario (importing from Mexico)
Partnership Since: 2009
Supplies: Hass avocados
AvoFresh works directly with family farms in Michoacán, Mexico, to source Hass avocados at the perfect ripeness. They've developed a sophisticated ripening facility in Toronto that ensures our restaurants receive avocados at the ideal stage for making guacamole.
"The key to great guacamole is having avocados at exactly the right ripeness," says Elena Rodriguez, quality control manager at AvoFresh. "We've developed a six-stage ripening protocol that ensures BarBurrito gets avocados that are perfectly creamy and flavorful every time."
AvoFresh also works with their Mexican partner farms on water conservation initiatives and fair labor practices, ensuring that our avocado supply chain is as sustainable as possible.
Protein Partners: Quality You Can Taste
The proteins that form the centerpiece of our burritos and bowls are sourced from suppliers committed to quality, animal welfare, and food safety.
Fraser Valley Poultry
Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia
Partnership Since: 2012
Supplies: Chicken
Fraser Valley Poultry provides the chicken for our grilled chicken option, consistently one of our most popular proteins. Their chickens are raised without antibiotics and fed a vegetarian diet.
"We believe that better animal care leads to better quality meat," says James Chen, operations director at Fraser Valley Poultry. "Our chickens are raised with more space than industry standards, and we work with veterinarians to ensure health through preventive care rather than antibiotics."
Prairie Prime Beef
Location: Alberta
Partnership Since: 2008
Supplies: Beef for steak and ground beef
Our beef comes from Prairie Prime, a collective of ranchers in Alberta who raise cattle according to strict quality and welfare standards. Their cattle are grass-fed and grain-finished for optimal flavor.
"Canadian beef is some of the best in the world due to our clean environment and stringent safety standards," explains Sarah Thompson of Prairie Prime. "We've worked with BarBurrito to develop specific marination and cooking protocols that enhance the natural flavor of our beef in their recipes."
Bean There, Done That: Our Bean Suppliers
Beans are a cornerstone of Tex-Mex cuisine, providing protein, fiber, and flavor to our burritos and bowls.
Great Northern Bean Company
Location: Manitoba
Partnership Since: 2006
Supplies: Black beans, pinto beans
Great Northern Bean Company works with Canadian farmers who grow high-quality beans using sustainable farming practices. Their beans are known for consistent texture and flavor, essential qualities for our recipes.
"Beans might seem simple, but there's a huge difference in quality depending on growing conditions and handling," notes bean farmer Robert Johnson. "We work closely with BarBurrito to ensure the beans have the perfect texture—soft but not mushy—for their signature recipes."
From Field to Restaurant: Our Quality Control Process
Getting great ingredients from our suppliers to your plate involves several quality control steps:
- Supplier Selection: We thoroughly vet potential suppliers based on quality, consistency, safety practices, and alignment with our values.
- Regular Audits: Our quality assurance team conducts regular visits to supplier facilities to ensure standards are maintained.
- Delivery Inspection: Each delivery to our restaurants is inspected for quality before being accepted.
- Daily Prep: Ingredients are prepared fresh daily in our restaurants, ensuring optimal flavor and texture.
- Staff Training: Our team members are trained to recognize quality ingredients and proper handling techniques.
Our team members preparing fresh ingredients at a BarBurrito location
Challenges and Commitments
Sourcing high-quality ingredients year-round in Canada presents challenges, particularly with our country's seasonal growing cycle. We're transparent about these challenges and our ongoing efforts to address them:
- Seasonality: During winter months, some produce must come from further away. We work to minimize the environmental impact through efficient logistics.
- Scale: As we've grown to over 80 locations, maintaining consistent quality across all restaurants has required sophisticated systems and training.
- Cost Pressures: Quality ingredients often cost more, but we believe the difference in taste and nutrition is worth it.
Looking ahead, we're committed to continuously improving our sourcing practices. Our goals for the coming years include:
- Increasing our percentage of locally sourced ingredients
- Further reducing the environmental footprint of our supply chain
- Expanding our network of suppliers who implement regenerative agricultural practices
- Greater transparency about our sourcing through in-restaurant information and digital platforms
Taste the Difference
We invite you to taste the difference that quality ingredients make. The next time you enjoy a BarBurrito meal, take a moment to appreciate the journey those ingredients have taken—from the careful hands of our farming partners to our restaurant teams who prepare them fresh daily.
Our commitment to quality sourcing is just one way we strive to provide the best possible Tex-Mex experience to our customers. After all, we believe that better ingredients make better burritos!
