Chilliwack Agricultural Tour.

On September 26th the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission invited Slow Food Vancouver to attend the 8th annual Chilliwack Agricultural Tour. The weather was stunning and it was a privilege to get a close-up look at four farming operations as well the greenhouse at Sardis Secondary School.

The first stop was Dutch Heritage Greenhouse which grows chrysanthemums year round. The plants are propagated and grown in an expansive greenhouse where autumn light conditions are simulated 12 months a year. Once the chrysanthemums are grown and harvested, the flowers are bundled and sent to the Burnaby flower auction. From there, the flowers make their way to local florists and grocery stores.
While many of us are buying local food, we may not think we can buy locally grown flowers. Check for the Dutch Heritage logo printed on the cellophane flower wrapping.

The next stop was Rosevale Farms, a family operated dairy. We were first taken into the spotless milking area. Second-generation owner Jeremy Wiebe explained that his 130 cows are milked twice a day, and thanks to a sophisticated computer system, the amount of milk produced by each cow is carefully monitored. Mr. Wiebe emphasized the importance of keeping the cows happy, well-fed and well-hydrated to maximize milk production.

According to Mr. Wiebe, BC’s approximately 575 dairy farms generate $600 million per year; employ approximately 4,000 people directly with an addition 9,000 jobs in related industries. Dairy farms account for about 15% of agricultural jobs in BC, and contribute approximately $100 million in taxes.

Berlo Farms was our next destination. The farm, which began by growing bulb flowers such as tulips, is now propagating seeds for vegetable crops including Brussels sprouts, broccoli, white cabbage, peppers and zucchini. We were given a demonstration a sowing machine which compacts soil into a frame, inserts seeds and gives them an initial spray of water to begin the germination process. The seedlings are then tended in the Berlo Farms greenhouse until they are mature enough to be sold to farmers who then plant them in their fields.

Berlo Farms also dedicates 30 acres to growing landscape trees.

The tour continued to Fantasy Farms, a family-owned business which is expanding into agri-tourism. Their haunted house was getting ready to host Halloween crowds. Tour participants were ferried to the pumpkin patch full of bright orange pumpkins waiting to be taken home. Fantasy Farms welcomes school groups and families to their pumpkin patch, while teens and adults can get a fright in the Haunted House. Plans are being made for future Christmas and Easter productions.

While at Fantasy Farms, tour participants were served a healthy and tasty meal prepared by Cookie’s Grill Catering. During lunch the Mayor of Chilliwack Sharon Getz and Minister of Agriculture and Lands Honourable Steve Thomson addressed the group. They stressed the importance of farming not only to the Chilliwack area, but also to BC’s economy. 

Last on the tour was a stop at Sardis Senior Secondary School, where the newly renovated greenhouse was already brimming with healthy tomato, cucumber and pepper plants. Students presented information about work they are doing—formulating a balanced fertilizer, operating the new, efficient irrigation system, and trimming the plants for maximum crop production. The students also displayed information about bug warfare: dealing with bad bugs by using good bugs.

This year’s agri-tour was an opportunity to meet Chilliwack producers and to understand some of the challenges they face as well as the benefits they add to our local economy.

—Josie Padro
Images: Chilliwack Agricultural Commission