About Us

Urban Harvest was started in January of 2000 by Lisa McIntosh and David Nelson, with the goal of connecting local growers and local eaters! Lisa and her team continue to work hard to make the choice to eat organic both convenient and affordable for our customers in the Central Okanagan area, while contributing to a local food culture that celebrates healthy, joyful eating.

We are also deeply committed to being part of a more sustainable food system, and as such, we work closely with Okanagan farmers to ensure that we are able to buy as much of our produce as possible locally, reducing the distance from field to table. We support a number of local organizations with weekly food donations, and also pass on lots of culls + scraps to local bunnies, chickens and compost piles!

Meet The Urban Harvest Team!

Lisa manages Urban Harvest from her home office, taking care of the business administration, accounting, marketing, community outreach, and customer support (with Brittany's support!), as well as the planning/purhasing/logistics of food orders, and team leadership. She is also a back-up player for the rest of the team, filling in as needed on deliveries, packing orders, warehouse work, etc. Lisa's interest in organic food goes back to university days in the nineties when she studied and volunteered with various food-related community economic development projects such as farmers' markets, community kitchens, community gardens, and organic farms. Never in her wildest dreams, as a post-grad 24 year old starting out in 2000, did she think she would still be operating Urban Harvest as she approached her fifities...but Urban Harvest continues to combine many of her passions, and she is grateful to have been so well fed (on many levels!) for so many years! When not working, she loves hiking, biking, music, kayaking, reading, being in nature, mini day trips, and spending time with family and friends.

Cheryl has been making things beautiful at Urban Harvest since February of 2008…another knowledge-keeper at Urban Harvest! She brings a deep passion for the planet, a truly kind heart, and an uncanny knack of adding beauty to everything she touches…not to mention an impressive work stamina! Cheryl is a key part of our warehouse team, packing and checking your Harvest Boxes, to ensure that they meet high quality and accuracy standards. She also assists with warehouse management, bin washing, and our weekly Saturday Sales (if you are a Saturday Sale shopper, you may have seen Cheryl's smiling face there)! And if you've been a Kelowna resident for more than a few years, you may also remember Cheryl from her former downtown juice bar/café, Urban Oasis, which she owned and operated from 1996-2001. Apart from being a wonderful cook (food artist, really!), gardener, and kundalini yogi, Cheryl is also a very dedicated mom to her daughter Emily and her (much) older son Tyler!

Carol began working with Urban Harvest in September of 2013, and has been packing and delivering orders since that time, along with some time spent assisting in the office. She currently packs and delivers on Tues, Wed, and Thurs, in our mini cargo van. Carol loves to drive, to work with the good products of the land for Urban Harvest, and to be part of this great team bringing good food to good people. Having grown up in Saskatchewan, she learned early to care about the farmers, and what they needed…as it was always a topic of conversation even in the city. Carol moved here in 2002 with her then 3 year old daughter, having lived in Langley before that for 27 years. Awareness and concern for food, farming and health are main drivers for Carol. She is dedicated to community activating work supporting that realm in Kelowna, in such things as the World Community Film Festival held each March here at the College and a member of the BC Food Systems Network. Carol enjoys music (singing and dancing) and music festivals each summer, camping and travelling whenever possible, being a mom, attending conferences, cooking and sharing food with family and friends, hiking and water activities, her partner Robin, and her two dogs and cat, along with being a lifelong learner!

Shauna joined the Urban Harvest team in March 2019, bringing a wealth of related experience ranging from office skills to organic farming/small business management and even work experience as a chef in everything from fine dining to pizzerias. She also volunteered on the Vernon Farmer’s Market board of directors and on the board of BCARA (one of BC’s organic certification bodies). Shauna began her time with Urban Harvest as an administrative assistant but also pitched in at the warehouse as a back-up. She has recently embarked on a new journey of motherhood and farming in the beautiful Kootenays but still works in the background as the main creator and coordinator of our Harvest Herald newsletter!

Chris L is very grateful to be part of the Urban Harvest team! He moved to Kelowna close to four years ago for a change of pace in his life. The sunny Okanagan is where he belongs! His days consist of yoga, teaching, hiking and being out in nature with his partner. Chris's passion to eat healthy and support local farmers is on the top of his list. He is so excited to see the beautiful produce and healthy food being delivered to all of you!

Chris T was forced to return to Canada after years of travel and seasonal work when the pandemic struck Latin America. When his best pal convinced him to move to Kelowna on a whim in summer 2020, he stumbled upon the Urban Harvest family. Chris delivers the goods and is a certified bin packer! You can find him on the beach playing volleyball, practising yoga, pounding the drums, and (attempting) to make it down the mountain at Big White in the winter. With so much yummy produce at his fingertips, Chris plans on improving his cooking skills to the delight of those who have had the misfortune of trying his cooking!

Brittany joined the Urban Harvest team in March of 2021, after being a loyal customer for over 7 years. Her interests include gardening, houseplants, hiking/exploring, animals, locally sourced and grown products and spending quality time with her husband and 3 kids. Being raised here, she has always enjoyed the Okanagan’s amazing local produce and loves to find new and exciting ways to incorporate it into recipes for her family. Although all of her free time is currently dedicated to raising her kids, Brittany looks forward to travelling and community volunteer work in the future. She has 10 years of administrative and office experience and jumped at the chance to meld work and life interests together at Urban Harvest!

Rowan joined Urban Harvest in November of 2023 as part of the warehouse team, and is very grateful to be working alongside such amazing people. Born on his family’s farm, Little Creek, Rowan has always had a passion for all things organic, and has worked a variety of food related jobs. He is very interested in all things sci-fi and fantasy related, is an avid reader, and hopes to one day bring one of his own stories to life! Rowan also has a passion for basketball, hiking, skiing, and music, with a special appreciation for jazz. When he isn't playing his jazz playlist at work or through his headphones on a walk, he is at home practising his tenor saxophone skills.

Tashie joined the Urban Harvest Team in January 2024, and enjoys being part of this awesome team. She an avid rock climber and outdoor enthusiast and loves good food. Tashie loves to fill the warehouse with singing to Ella Fitzgerald while packing bins! She believes in holistic health and the benefits of organic eating, and endeavours to pursue a career in fitness and wellness to help others.

Nix joined the Urban Harvest team in early 2024 as a driver and warehouse assistant! He has lived in Kelowna since 2008 and knows his way around, and his family has been getting Urban Harvest for many many years, so it seemed like a perfect fit! Nix has always enjoyed gardening with his mom, and is excited to start his own garden! When not working, they can be found working on different hobbies like drawing, crocheting, baking and lots more. They are very excited to have so much fresh produce to use for lots of different cooking adventures!