Special Features - Outlook Agriculture 2016

The Chilliwack Progress Friday, June 24, 2016

www.theprogress.com

outlook

agriculture

Progress The Chilliwack

Since 18 91

15

www.theprogress.com

Friday, June 24, 2016 The Chilliwack Progress

Farming just got

20EASIER! %

SALE ENDS JUNE 30

2016 CHEVY SILVERADO LS DBL CAB 4X4 5.3L V8, MY LINK 7” RADIO, TRAILER PKG, XM RADIO

res piire Ex Exp une 30/16 Ju

MSRP $45,125

P R MS IT

20% OFF PRICE = $36,389*

OFSH CRED CA

SAVE $8,736

STK#68-31320

2016 GMC SIERRA DBL CAB 4X4 1 TON

6.0L V8, H.D. TRAILER PKG, AUTO, AIR, PWR. WINDOWS

res piire Ex Exp une 30/16 Ju

MSRP $53,895

20% OFF PRICE = $43,455* STK#68-5812

SAVE $10,440 S

THE MOST EXPERIENCED XPERIENCED TEAM IN THE FRASER VA VALLEY.

Wayne Berghauser

Jim Cyrull

Jodi Derksen

Peter Dijk

VISIT US AT

MertinGM.COM 45930 AIRPORT ROAD

Sean Elmont

Mike Foster

Dustin Hurley

Peter Jennings

Ingrid Kerr

Paul Lescisin

Sat Manju

Dave Manning

Surinder Mann

Wayne VandenBrink

Rudy Walde

Tim Wilkins

SALES TEAM

PARTS + SERVICE

PAINT + COLLISION CENTRE

604.795.9104

604.795.9104

604.792.1391

ALL PRICES PLUS APPLICABLE TAX AND $499 DOCUMENTATION FEE.

DLN 8692

6-16F MSPEC

16

outlook

The Chilliwack Progress Friday, June 24, 2016

www.theprogress.com

AGRICULTURE

Hop growing makes its return to Chilliwack Vanessa Broadbent THE PROGRESS

After taking a short hiatus, hop farming is returning to its former glory in Chilliwack.

In the 50s and 60s Chilliwack was home to the largest hop farm in the world, owned by Fred Haas. At one time, the hop industry was the largest employer in the area, so much so that the Hop Yard Special, a train from Vancouver to Chilliwack for hop farm employees, was introduced.

The employment opportunities attracted a significant amount of new Canadian citizens to relocate to the Chilliwack area.

“Just about every one of them

started working in the hop farm,” John Lawrence, owner and CEO of Chilliwack Hop Farms explained. “A lot of people have started their lives in Chilliwack by working in a hop farm.”

than ever, with craft beer requiring 20 percent of hops produced worldwide.

But with the worldwide growth of hop farming, there was a surplus of hops, causing the cost to significantly decrease, and Haas sold his farm.

“It sounded good,” he said.

“I thought of it as a retirement plan.”

A decade later, the hop farming industry has returned, with two hop farms in Chilliwack: Chilliwack Hop Farms and Sartori Hop Farm in Columbia Valley.

With the up rise of microbreweries worldwide, and especially in the Pacific Northwest area, hops are in higher demand

17

Lawrence started the business after retiring, not expecting that it would be as successful it is today.

Currently, Chilliwack Hop Farms grows over 15 varieties of hops, and sells to over 100 breweries all over the world, including some in Alaska, China, and Russia.

The business started with only 12 acres, and now has over 70 in Rosedale, Greendale, and Agassiz, and future plans include opening a microbrewery as well.

Chilliwack Hop Farms, which grows over 15 varieties of hops, and sells to over 100 breweries and now has over 70 acres in production in Rosdale, Greendale and Agassiz.

3164-01

Launch a Career in Agriculture Learn in the state-of-the-art Agriculture Centre in Chilliwack.

DEGREES • Bachelor of Business Administration degree (Agriculture Management) • Other degree transfer options available

ESSENTIALS CERTIFICATES • • • • •

Berry production Current agricultural practices Field vegetable production Integrated pest management Milker technician

Apply now!

Call 1-888-504-7441 ext. 2813

ufv.ca/agriculture

1-YEAR CERTIFICATES AND 2-YEAR DIPLOMAS • Horticulture crop production and protection • Livestock production

We’re proud to support agricultural excellence in our community.

Thank you, Chilliwack farmers!

SPECIALTY PART-TIME COURSES • • • • • • • •

Dairy production and management Equine production and management Greenhouse production Intro to soils and soil fertility Sustainable holistic agriculture Nursery production and propagation On-farm food safety Pest management

Mayor Sharon Gaetz

Councillor ^ƵĞ Ʃƌŝůů

Councillor Chris Kloot

Councillor Jason Lum

Councillor Ken Popove

Councillor Chuck Stam

Councillor Sam Waddington 6-16F CC24

18

outlook www.theprogress.com

Friday, June 24, 2016 The Chilliwack Progress

AGRICULTURE

Sprouting success at Anita’s Organic Mill Jennifer Feinberg THE PROGRESS

Anita’s Organic Mill is growing so much, they are spread out temporarily on several different sites across Chilliwack.

“We are seeing a lot of growth, with our products now reaching across Canada,” said Taylor Gemmel, owner and manager of Anita’s Organic Mill.

You can find Anita’s Organic Mill products at Local Harvest Market in Chilliwack, as well as some of big grocery chains, and many more.

Anita’s has earned a solid reputation for a fabulous range of organic and kosher grains, stoneground and whole grain flours, ancient grains, cereals and mixes.

“Honest, simple and consistent” is the tagline — and it’s also their recipe for success.

“We focus on clean, healthy ingredients for home-bakers,” Gemmel said.

That means grains, cereals and flours without synthetic chemicals or pesticides.

They’ve seen recent spikes in retail sales, but also bulk products, said

Jayda Smith, Anita’s marketing and sales head.

Some of their forward-looking growth can be attributed to the company’s penchant for innovation, she said.

“We’re continuously looking at what is happening in the market and where things are going.”

It’s connected to their growth and expansion.

“A lot of it also has to do with brand awareness, and our consistency,” said Smith. “Our customers know we work directly with organic farmers to offer products that are freshly milled and head out quickly to the stores.”

Through all the changes they’re also running out of space, said Gemmel.

“We needed to expand, so we’ve taken on 9500 sq. ft. in Commercial Court for next month.”

The offices are located at Yale Road location next to the 6000 sq. ft. mill, where they’ve been since 1990.

Another 4000 sq. ft. manufacturing site is on Aitken Road, and they’re doing shipping and receiving from the site in Commercial Court.

It is not as efficient as it could be

Taylor Gemmel, owner, and Jayda Smith, sales and marketing, of Anita’s Organic Mill in front of some of their cereal, grain and flour products at the offices on Yale Road. JENNIFER FEINBERG/ THE PROGRESS

being spread out, so they are hoping to consolidate in future into one building.

They’ve introduced a line of “sprouted” products, where they maintain the integrity of the grain.

They are in development for a new type of flour, Ezekiel Flour, with all sprouted ingredients like legumes and lentils, sprouted barley and sprouted wheat.

“The flavour profile is amazing with high protein levels,” Smith said about the new flour.

More self-rising and blended flour mixes are coming too.

All of that puts them on the forefront of the organic grains and flours industry in B.C. and across the country, by producing the highest quality products, cleaned to 99.9 per cent.

So what’s coming down the pike for Anita’s in 2016 and beyond? Lots!

A new website is in the works.

“I think we will continue to tell our story of Anita’s Organic Mill, and continue to add products,” said Gemmel.

“We have built solid relationships with our farmers, we pay a fair price and we put out products that are second to none.”

6-16F BBF24

6/16F_LTJM24

outlook

The Chilliwack Progress Friday, June 24, 2016

www.theprogress.com

AGRICULTURE

New flavour coming next month for cheese lovers Jennifer Feinberg

Farm Cheese in 2010, and they’re getting ready for the their sixth year on the Circle Farm Tour.

Gouda cheese is still the star at Smits & Co.w Farm Cheese on Lickman Road.

“We’ve grown a lot,” she said, noting increases at both the retail and wholesale level. “It’s picking up now for the season.”

THE PROGRESS

It’s traditional gouda, mild, medium or aged. If more zest is needed try their varieties made with cloves, nettles, pepper, bear garlic or cumin.

It’s all bound to be creamy and fresh.

“It’s unbelievable the enthusiasm people have for cheese,” said co-owner Stephanie Smits.

“

There’s something about it that is quite addictive. People have an undying love for cheese

The self-guided Circle Farm Tour always brings in “enthusiastic” cheese lovers to try out their wares at the Lickman Road farm.

“There’s something about it that is quite addictive,” she said.

“People have an undying love for cheese.”

~ Stephanie Smits

”

People seek them out from all parts of the Lower Mainland, as well as Chilliwack for their farmmade gouda.

Stephanie Smits and husband Ronald Smits opened Smits & Co.w

They raise a mixed herd of Holstein and Brown Swiss cows to produce excellent cheese. The milk from the dairy travels underground to the cheese plant, and eventually on display in the adjacent store.

Through the years they have

19

Ronald Smits, owner of Smits & Co.w Farm Cheese, addresses visitors from the Chilliwack Agricultural Tour 2013. The farm is a stop on the Circle Farm Tour which has become a source of enthusiastic cheese-lovers from all over the Lower Mainland. JENNIFER FEINBERG/ THE PROGRESS

tried out so many different ways to welcome their guests and clientele. They offer an astounding array of flavours of delectable Gouda, with samples to try in store, as well as a cup of coffee and sometimes a cookie to go with it.

In season they’ll make some blueberry or cranberry varieties of Gouda, and they added goat cheese to their product

line a few years ago. They also carry some gourmet crackers, compotes, as well as meat from Verard Farms and Dutch import products.

This year they are getting ready to unveil a brand-new cheese flavour: truffle.

“We making it available for the store anniversary in July.”

The goal is offering an

authentic agri-tourism experience for customers.

“We have sample platters in our store, and a picnic table outside. I call it getting the farm experience. The kids can look at the cows and bunnies, and everyone can take a moment to look around.”

Smits & Co.w Farm Cheese 5787 Lickman Road 604.824.9779

2016 RAM 1500 CONSEC UTIVE W INNER O F W

CANADA’S

MOST FUEL ARD’S 10 BEST EN EFFICIENT 2014/20 GINES FULL SIZED BACK TO BA!CK PICKUP! THE 3.0L EC1O5/2016 ER

PROUD SUPPORTER OF BCAC AND OUR FARMING COMMUNITY

CANADA’S

LONGEST -DIESEL LASTING DUTY

WINN

LIGHT PICKUP!

CONTACT BILL REID F EXCLUSIVE AGR OR MORE INFORMATION ON ICU

LTURE SPECIAL S

ONLY AT O’CONNOR C

HRYSLER!

Tax and documentaion fee $549 extra.

45730 HOCKING AVENUE Corner of Hocking & Yale Road, Chilliwack

SHOP FROM HOME: www.oconnorchrysler.com CALL US OR EMAIL FOR

MORE INFO TODAY!

604-792-2754

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!

6-16F_OC24

DLN 5952

20

outlook www.theprogress.com

AGRICULTURE

Friday, June 24, 2016 The Chilliwack Progress

Berryhill expansion into Chilliwack on target Jessica Peters THE PROGRESS

It’s looking like a good season for Fraser Valley berries, says Tom Phillips, general manager of Berryhill Foods.

His company processes about 20 million pounds of berries a year, mostly blueberries. But this week it was all about the raspberry season, and those are looking better than he’s seen them in years.

“It’s a great season,” he says. “The quality is as good as I’ve ever seen it. The raspberries especially love this cooler weather.”

Berry lovers will recall that last year’s blueberries were essentially “cooked on the bush,” with record high temperatures. Phillips said that while the yield was lower they still managed to get a decent crop last year.

As Berryhill readies to open the first phase of its Chilliwack expansion, this year’s berry crop is showing promise, says general manager Tom Phillips.

This year, there are even more exciting things blooming at Berryhill. They’re expanding from Abbotsford into

Chilliwack. The company deals in “individually quick frozen” berries, storing and packaging them for sale in Canada, the United States and Asia. For about 23 years, they have operated in Abbotsford.

But they have just about completed the first phase of construction of a 35,000 square foot facility on Kerr Avenue. They broke ground last fall and the project is right on track, Phillips said this week, thanks largely to the help and guidance he’s received from the City of Chilliwack.

“The City is fantastic,” he says. “They’ve been very supportive along the way.”

It’s been an easy relationship for him with city staff, which is the main reason he’s expanded his Abbotsfordbased business here.

While the cold storage facility will bring more berries to Chilliwack — about five million pounds — the second phase of the facility will bring jobs.

Phillips expects to require

about 20 workers in the peak of the berry season each year as they haul in their crops.

“We take them from the field, wash and inspect them and then flash freeze them,” he says. “They get laser sorted and metal detected and packaged destined for market in Asia, the United States and Canada.”

Chilliwack and Abbotsford are in the heart of the largest blueberry growing region in North America, he said.

“It’s the weather conditions here, the mild climate,” Phillips explains. “It really works well for growing blueberries.”

The blueberry industry in North America has grown to production levels totaling over a billion pounds. British Columbia is the largest producer of cultivated blueberries in North America, with production over 150 million pounds. Growth is expected to reach 200 million pounds in the near future, with about 95 per cent of that production occurring in the Fraser Valley.

6/16F_WP24

Proud to outfit and serve our Agriculture community!

#1-45802 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack | 604.846.0120 Mon-Wed: M W d 9am-6pm 9 6 • Thurs-Fri: Th F i 9am-6pm 9 6 • Sat: S 9am-5pm • Sun: Closed

& More!

outlook

The Chilliwack Progress Friday, June 24, 2016

www.theprogress.com

21

From Small Yards to Acreages Kelmor has What you Need!

AGRICULTURE

t 5PQ 4PJM t 1PUUJOH 4PJM t 4UFFS .BOVSF t .VTISPPN .BOVSF t $IJDLFO .BOVSF t $PNQPTUFE #BSL .VMDI

Mr. Scoops Garden Centre

Pit on Promontory Rd

#JMM ,FMMZ t

Proud Supplier of Quality Steel & Wire Products to the Farming Community for Over 35 Years

Bounty at our doorstep Whether it’s famous corn, delicious berries, peppers or tomatoes, Chilliwack is known to have a ripe market of produce stands.

In farm land or in the city centres, fruit stands and produce stores always have some healthy snacks up for grabs.

Travel down Prest Rd between Yale and Bailey and you’ll see blueberry stands on one side and the other. Take a ride along Vedder Mountain Road for strawberries.

Pickers are out there plucking in the hot sun or the drizzling rain to bring Chilliwack the best, locally grown berries.

Thank You for Your Continued Support!

Or, slap on the sunscreen, grab a bucket and pick your own at the growing number of U-pick locations.

Local produce markets are also doing their best to bring the bounty in and around Chilliwack to your kitchen table.

For a dealer near you call 604-856-3391

Shoppers were circling the flats at SKT Farmers Market this week looking for the best in produce. Signs lined Yale Road to bring customers in for ‘Farm Fresh Blueberries,’ ‘Fresh Sweet Okanagan Cherries,’ and ‘Local Raspberries’ – a sure indication that summer has arrived.

FRASER VALLEY STEEL & WIRE LTD. 3174 Mt. Lehman Road, Abbotsford, BC 604-856-3391 | fraservalleysteelandwire.com

We Can Cover It

SUNDAY, JULY SUNDAY, JULY 17, 17, 2016 2016

Agricultural Products Our agricultural products are perfect for barns, shops, or any agricultural project you may be working on. We offer the following agricultural products: Diamond Rib • Duraclad • Allclad • Tuftex PVC Liner Panel • DelPro 1238 • Weather Shield 1 • Weather Shield 2

+ CAR PREREGISTRATION IS M MANDATORY ANDATORY + Located at Atchelitz Thresherman’s Association Grounds 44146 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack, BC

Over 100 mint condition classic cars 1979 & older Great Food • People’s Choice Voting + much more Music provided by “89.5 The Driveâ€? featuring Trevor McDonald

KNIGHT RD.

6/16F_FVCCS24

#1 HIGHWAY

6/16F_C24

604-858-2600 45788 Knight Rd.

VEDDER RD.

N

For more information and also how to enter your car, please visit www.fvccs.ca. There is no cost to enter your car and no admission fee for the viewing public. Gates open for the general viewing public at 10am

Sponsored by Great Canadian Oil Change Ltd. Organized by Fraser Valley British Motor Club

6/15W_K24

ENTERPRISES LTD.

outlook

www.theprogress.com

Friday, June 24, 2016 The Chilliwack Progress

&

AGRICULTURE

Same great

BLUEBERRIES ONE NAME & ONE LOCATION

NOW OPEN! Avner Bachar teaches the automation and robotics program, in which students create their own automated robotic devices. VANESSA BROADBENT PHOTO

UFV answering the call for robotics in agriculture FRESH FROM THE FIELD!

Vanessa Broadbent

Fraser Valley Meats

South Prest Road

Minter Country Garden

Hope

(7481 Vedder Rd., Sardis) (10015 Young Rd., North)

North Prest Road (8719 Prest Rd.)

“In our first year we do the common core electronics so people learn about the most common electronics,” Bachar said. “They have to have a good solid background in electric circuits and components before they go Essentially, the automation We have interaction into automation and robotics. and robotics program with our agriculture You can’t come directly into teaches students how to build the second year unless you and operate automation and department, but also have previous experience in control systems for a variety with local companies electronics, with the minimum of industries. who have agriculture of the common core. We are also working on a bridging “We cover a lot of equipment, and option for those in the automation processes, Electrical and physics type incorporating technology farmers as well programs” and automation, whether it’s robotics or just an automated ~ Robotics professor Avner While the program is process,” automation and Bachar applicable to a variety of robotics professor Avner fields, including industrial Bachar explained. manufacturing and the oil The program is two and gas industry, some of its semesters long and is the graduates use their learned second year option for the skills to work in the agriculture industry. common core program, applicants are required to have completed the electronics Continued: ROBOTICS/ P23 gy has made its way into every possible area of our lives, and agriculture is no different, especially with the introduction of UFV’s new automation and robotics program.

(7825 Prest Rd.)

(Northeast corner of Old Princeton HWY. & 6th Ave., across from the Esso gas station)

Farm (8915 McElwee Rd., Rosedale)

• Organic sprays only Adding BLACKBERRIES • No cannons THIS YEAR! • U pick or We pick

Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association

MCELWEE RD.

FORD RD.

NEVIN RD.

HOLT RD.

CHILLIWACK CENTRAL RD.

or order online at: W W W. C H I L L I W A C K B L U E B E R R I E S . C O M

06/16F_KF24

HAS REBRANDED 8915 MCELWEE RD., ROSEDALE

604-845-0678

“

”

ORDER YOURS TODAY! 604-845-0678 we sell out early!

To order call Bill i at

technician common core certificate or have equivalent background.

THE PROGRESS

6 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

ANNIS RD.

22

New Name • New Look • Same Service visit:

www.AgSafeBC.ca

for more details

outlook

The Chilliwack Progress Friday, June 24, 2016

is pleased to salute the efforts of

Dairy & Agricultural Industries in the Fraser Valley.

down, sometimes they have to wait two or three weeks just for someone to come and service it, even if it was a simple fix, and they couldn’t afford to wait that long.”

from page 22

The program works alongside UFV’s Agriculture Centre of Excellence, which opened at UFV’s Canada Education Park campus in April 2014.

“We have interaction with our agriculture department, but also with local companies who have agriculture equipment, and farmers as well,” Bachar said. “ a good example of automation in agriculture would be West Coast Robotics, they supply and service robotic milking machines.”

Bachar also noted that the program is in demand in the Fraser Valley as there currently isn’t a lot of support for automated farming equipment.

“There’s a big need throughout the entire Lower Mainland,” he said. “A lot of farmers here were initially very reluctant to introduce technology into their farming, just because there weren’t any services or tech support to support them. If anything goes

• RESIDENTIAL

By increasing the amount of professionals working in the area, Bachar predicts an increase in automated farming in the Fraser Valley.

• AGRICULTURAL

“If [farmers] know that they can get a response in one or two days, they’re more inclined to try it out and see if it works for them, knowing that if there is a problem, they don’t have to wait so long and lose revenue over two or three weeks,” he said.

“With that respect, there is definitely a need because I don’t think there’s enough support there.

The program just finished its first year and won’t be offered again until September of 2017.

“We completed our first year run and now we’re taking a break accepting applications for 2017” Bachar said.

• COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

Call on us for all your asphalt paving and maintenance requirements. With our expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained construction team, we bring creative paving solutions and professional service.

Stay Informed.

604.795.1626 604.857.3126 1.800.ASPHALT

HEADLINES ON THE GO

w w w. t h e p r o g r e s s . c o m

The e Chilliwack k

POWERED BY...

It’s the BEST PART of summer

COME CELEBRATE AT BC’S LARGEST AGRICULTURE SHOWCASE

2016 F-150 XTR Supercrew 4x4 $50,899

$

PNE 4-H FESTIVAL

FARM COUNTRY

Offering over 30 types of project competitions as well as provincial programs for judging, speak and show and educational displays. Travel assistance offered to clubs outside of the Fraser Valley through the BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation.

Come out and experience BC’s remarkably diverse agriculture industry. Featuring the crowd-favourite Discovery Farm exhibit plus a whole barn full of exciting animal displays.

AUG 20–23

5.0L V8, Tow package, Power driver’s seat, Back up camera. #85-4866

Your Price After Discount

topwestasphalt.com

jay@topwestasphalt.com

Progress

TOW MORE. WORK SMARTER.

MSRP

39,149

Prices include freight and air tax. $499 documentation fees extra.

PACIFIC SPIRIT HORSE SHOW

AUG 20–SEP 5

AUG 24–SEP 5

Competitions in: Junior Amateur Jumping, Draft Team, Indoor Eventing and HCBC Heritage Qualifier classes in English, Western and Dressage. Also featuring HCBC Horse Day on August 27.

ENTRY DEADLINE: JUNE 24, 2016

· SAFETY INSPECTED · FINANCING AVAILABLE · TRADES WELCOME

CHILLIWACK 30898

23

AGRICULTURE

Robotic training fills a need ROBOTIC

www.theprogress.com

604-252-3581 • agriculture@pne.ca •

45681 Yale Road West, Chilliwack • 1-888-386-3366 • 604-792-1361

NEVER OPEN ON SUNDAYS

6-16F CF24

06/16F_PNE24

ENTRY DEADLINE: JULY 22, 2016

outlook

www.theprogress.com

Friday, June 24, 2016 The Chilliwack Progress

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is our way of life too 1-800-387-3232

fcc.ca

John Guliker wades into a bright red sea of cranberries during last year’s harvest in Chilliwack. B.C. is one of the largest suppliers of cranberries in North America. SAM BATES/ THE PROGRESS

Cranberries add new colour to Chilliwack’s agriculture palette The annual cranberry harvest in Chilliwack is a breathtaking sight.

When local farmers flood the fields and paint the landscape ruby red, drivers along the highway slow down to catch the beauty as the floating berries glisten in the sun.

6-16F FCC24

John Guliker and his team from Better Berries farm off Chilliwack Central Road spend hours slowly wading through the

knee-high water of the 36 acre bog.

It was October, in time for Thanksgiving, when Better Berries harvested 210 barrels per acre to then be cleaned, sorted and stored for processing with Ocean Spray.

With 6,500 acres of cranberry bogs, B.C. is the fourth largest North American cranberry supplier for Ocean Spray, after Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Quebec.

CHILLIWACK ROTARY

2016

Tickets $25

sponsored by Tourism Chilliwack.

Saturday, July 9

yside Campground Store.

Concession run by Sunnyside Jurassic Park

July 8

Saturday Night Fever

July 15

Zootopia

9:00 am to 4:00 pm TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT: • Little Mountain Garden Centre • Minter Country Garden • Tourism Chilliwack • Fortin’s Home Hardware - Vedder Location

July 22 My Big Fat Greek Wedding #22 July 29

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

or online at: chilliwackrotarygardentour.ca

August 5 Jungle Book

Self guided tour of 11 superb gardens ranging in size from city lots to acreage.

All Monies collected goes to charity.

August 12 American Graffiti and Grease - 50's Night ht SSponsoredd bby CCoca Cola Cl

For more details: www.chilliwackrotarygardentour.ca

Admission is FREE. Movies @ Dusk by Gazebo C (Lot A).

Bring your own chair or blanket Cultus Lake Community Events & Activities Committee

THE ROTARY CLUB OF CHILLIWACK

6/16F_RGT24

July 1

06/16F_CL24

24

outlook

The Chilliwack Progress Friday, June 24, 2016

www.theprogress.com

25

AGRICULTURE

From the archived pages of the Chilliwack Progress

Chilliwack’s hop culture history Jessica Peters THE PROGRESS

Cultivating hops in Chilliwack started out as a bit of an experiment in agriculture, but one that quickly grew into a massive local industry. In the late 1800s, a handful of local farmers plotted out small parcels to try their hand at the crops. They had heard of success in Washington, California and England, and these pioneering farmers were eager to find a profitable crop. They tried different varieties, often sent here by ship from Kent, England, known as “the centre of the English hop growing industry.”

They battled off various insects with compounds they discovered themselves, and had agriculture dignitaries visit farms to give out advice and share news from other regions.

And all of theses successes and failures were chronicled thoroughly through this newspaper.

Since 1891

Not deterred, a man named Henry Hulbert bought several acres from Adam Vedder in Sardis, planted hops, built a house and planned for more. The Progress at the time noted him as a “shrewd business man” who intended to pursue hop raising extensively. (Aug. 29, 1894) Again, that rang true, as Hulbert went on to build one of the largest hop farms in Chilliwack.

So did E. Clemons Horst.

In September of 1912, the E. Clemens Horst Hop Company would employ about 600 people to handpick their crops. The workers were typically Hindu, Chinese and aboriginal.

As the field sizes grew, taking over the lands in Sardis, Yarrow and Agassiz — and the very fertile, drained Sumas Prairie — hop harvesting played a growing role in shaping the community.

“

Other farmers are expected to follow suit, and soon Chilliwack will be known as the hop fields of the Pacific Coast

The First Nation communities were the first hop pickers, and entire families would leave their local villages to live in tents on the fields through September and into October.

The beerflavouring flower showed early promise, and as excitement grew, so The pay was ~ Chilliwack Progress, considered profitable did the size of the crops. The pride in at that time, for May 28, 1891 the Fraser Valley’s the work involved. ability to produce There were young aboriginal girls quality hops was making an average evident in countless of three dollars a editorials printed in day, with some of the best adult The Chilliwack Progress through pickers making four dollars a day. the decades.

Group portrait of hop pickers on the Haas hop yards in Sardis, 1942. (P5759)

Photo courtesy of Chilliwack Museum

and Archives.

”

“Hop culture in this district is going to become a profitable industry for farmers. Mr. T. Dunville, of this place, has planted five acres of his land with this crop and the young shoots are growing very fast and promised a fair yield this season. Other farmers are expected to follow suit, and soon Chilliwack will be known as the hop fields of the Pacific Coast.” —Chilliwack Progress, May 28, 1891 The editor of the day must have had a crystal ball. A few decades later, the hops industry had flourished so well here that thousands were employed in the industry, annually cultivating hundreds of acres of hops.

The Progress paid close attention to how crops were being managed in other areas.

That same year, the dreaded hop louse was ravaging vines and threatening whole crops.

Farmers were hopeful that a remedy made in France, a solution of quassia chips and whale oil soap, would exterminate the “ravaging insects.”

In Sacramento, the paper reported, a small red spider was appearing in large numbers, and beginning to destroy crops.

And everyone in the community kept close watch on the profit margins of the crops, as the wellemployed pickers provided a boost to the local economy.

“They are good spenders of money, and the cash paid out for their wages is in a large measure spent in the valley at the stores, buying blankets and colored cloth, or anything else that may take their fancy. All the stores do a thriving trade while the Indians are here, and several of the merchants, have temporary branches of their business at the hop fields during the time that the picking season is in full swing.”

- Chilliwack Progress, Sept . 4, 1912.

Children as young as 10 years old were out working the fields daily, and farmers enticed entire families to come to work, promising social comforts like daycare, a dance hall, and even free produce: “Hop Pickers Wanted by Canadian Hop Growers Limited, Sumas Prairie on Yale road.

Free rooms, free wood and free potatoes. About thirty days continuous work. Free children’s nursery, dance and amusement hall.” - Chilliwack Progress, July 14, 1927

View of large hop kiln at the Haas hop yards, 1938. (P2003 30 8) Photo courtesy of Chilliwack Museum and Archives.

The following year, Mennonite families also began migrating to the area, in part to work the hops fields.

Many of them settled in Yarrow, and that community began to thrive.

While it was temporary work, the labour pool needed grew from hundreds to thousands. In the fall of 1932, the hop crops gave employment to about 1800 people, men, women and children.

Just as the early farmers in the area experimented with crop growing techniques, farmers through the mid-1900s began experimenting with machinery.

There were a few failed attempts, and expensive machinery sat unused as pickers continued to do the work. At one point, up to 4,000 people were out in the fields harvesting the crop that would be shipped elsewhere along the Fraser River to be used in beer

brewing.

Another key player in the hops industry was John I. Haas, who purchased all of the assets of Chilliwack’s hops growers to become the sole grower in the area. (The Chilliwack Story, Ron Denman) That was in the late 1950s, when machinery really began to outpace even the best pickers. The Haas farm at one point was the only hops producer in all of Canada, and the largest in the British Commonwealth.

But after the culture surrounding hand-picking of hops died out, so too did the hype around hops.

In 1997, the John I. Haas Company’s land was listed with Colliers International for sale. It was an impressive 1.326-acres and as such, the largest land sale in Chilliwack’s history.