up front By Bryden Winsby
The Law of the Vital Few — and you T
he old adage that there is strength in numbers can be as true for agricultural organizations as for anything else. But the numbers must go beyond being just a lengthy list of members who do little more than receive a newsletter and take advantage of whatever benefits the group offers. Getting directly involved, taking an active interest, is something B.C. Blueberry Council chair Mike Makara wants to see from more growers, and he makes a pretty good case in this issue's cover story.
As someone who has been involved with numerous community organizations and as a municipal councillor, I have some idea of what he is talking about. I'm reminded of something called Pareto's Principle, also known as the 80-20 Rule and the Law of the Vital Few.
It originated with Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who in 1906 created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that 20 percent of the people owned 80 percent of the wealth. It has been applied since to many things, from human resources and project management to health care. Basically, it holds that a small proportion of something is always—or very often, anyway—responsible for a large proportion of the results. Consider your own activities, and how often you have lamented the fact that others who are supposed to be helping out simply aren't carrying their share of the load. Maybe the number of slackers doesn't hit 80 per cent, but you get the point.
Just think, if one in five members of your berry organization actually committed time and energy to doing some (or a lot) of work on its behalf, the results could be awesome.
On a closely related matter, we bring you an update on efforts to establish national councils for blueberries and raspberries. At this writing, it appears the topic could be given a good airing at the upcoming Pacific Agricultural Show. The aim is to get finishing touches done by spring.
Moving along, you’ll find an update on what happened at harvest time during one the more bizarre weather years in recent memory. While not extreme, conditions culminated in some
4 British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2011-12
pleasant results on the marketing side — but a caution that those blueberry prices are unlikely to be
sustained, especially with more competition coming on-stream. One the cranberry front, we explain what’s in the works for
a new research centre to be located in Delta. It won’t be fancy, but the objectives are sound — delving into the reasons for declining crops and determining how new fruit varieties developed elsewhere will perform under conditions here.
Still with research, flooding can be a big problem in these parts, and while their work isn’t related directly to that problem, scientists at the University of California at Riverside have discovered how plants sense low oxygen levels to survive floods—a finding that could lead eventually to the production of high-
yielding, flood-tolerant crops, benefiting farmers, markets and consumers everywhere.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a piece on how
two young staffers with a consulting firm approach their work with Integrated Pest Management. And finally, the use of social media is on a lot of business and political minds these days, and so it is with Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers’ Association, which is encouraging growers to use such means as Twitter, Facebook and blogs to get the word out when fresh strawberries are available. It’s an obvious way for younger growers to reach younger consumers, but even those who are longer in the tooth and lacking in new-media savvy should know it gives a whole new meaning to the expression “Sweet Tweet.”
Helping BC’s berry industries adapt, diversify and grow!
Since 1997, we’ve pledged $2.6 million for 70 projects and initiatives with British Columbia’s berry sectors. We’re proud to have assisted producers and processors in carrying out projects ranging from pest and disease management, harvesting technology and new value added opportunities. You can continue to count on our support to find innovative solutions that address the issues and opportunities your sectors are facing.
CONTACT US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE!
T 250.356.1662 E
funding@iafbc.ca www.iafbc.ca
Program Funding Provided by
11-IAF-06 BC Berry Grower
ad.indd 1 11-09-09 11:15 AM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24