Shergill Cranberry Farm
August 22 2009
“A Year in the Life of a Cranberry Bog”
It is a real honour to have Dr.Darshan Beher host a visit to his cranberry farm this year. Dr. Darshan Beher holds a PhD from the Punjab Agriculture University in India in Plant Pathology and taught there for 20 years. He published 22 peer-reviewed papers during his illustrious teaching career before deciding to retire from university life and emigrate to Canada in 1994. Upon arriving here with his family, he took over the management of his nephew’s (Dr. Kanwaljit Gill, a medical doctor) cranberry farm in Agassiz. Dr. Beher also owns a blueberry farm in Langley.
Dr. Darshan Beher’s family has farmed in the Punjab for as far back as anyone can trace. They still own land in the Pubjab and Dr. Beher’s brothers farm rice and wheat there on a 25 acre farm. Upon arrival in Canada, Dr. Beher quickly adapted his extensive knowledge of agriculture to the intricacies of being a successful cranberry farmer. This farm has flourished, set as it is in a pocket of land, sheltered by the surrounding hills, so the delicate cranberry plants are not exposed to rough winter winds. The crop is coming along well this year. The warm weather during pollination and the good growing conditions this year promise a good yield.
Dr. Beher, as with almost every cranberry grower in the Fraser Valley, sells his high quality cranberries to Ocean Spray. The cranberries are very clean, as they are grown on sand and the water used for irrigation and for harvesting is of very high quality. Agassiz is the warmest place in Canada (highest mean temperature) and due to the high heat units in the summer, this cranberry crop ripens early with great color. Only the best cranberries are used to make Craisins, and the cranberries from this farm usually make the grade for this lucrative market.
Come and tour this interesting farm and learn about Craisin production. Dr. Beher promises to give a great lecture on “A Year in the Life of a Cranberry Bog”. It is a treat to see the cranberry bog with its ripening crop, and to taste Ocean Spray Craisin and juice.
