He still sits on the research and industry relations committees. He’s also a director of the


Investment Agriculture Foundation representing root crops, blueberries and mushrooms on the board. He was appointed a year ago, and says he has found it really interesting. The IAF awards federal and provincial funds for research and innovation in agriculture. “Agriculture has been my livelihood. It’s been good to me and it’s good to put something back in,” comments Bates, adding, “You reap what you sow.” Being involved in agricultural organizations is educational and he enjoys it, he says, even though it takes time from the family and the farm. His brother Jack was president of


the Canadian Horticultural Council for a year and chair of the blueberry working council of the CHC, plus he is a director of the company that runs CanadaGap, a food safety certification program. Certification is an important tool


for marketing crops today, Bates believes. Both buyers and their


customers are all looking for certified safe produce. “We’ve always kept good spray


records,” he commented Being involved is important, and


Bates says when they’re away doing committee work, it’s important that the other brothers take over on the farm. There are nephews now who are involved in the farm and interested in continuing the business as well, he notes. Bates has attended some meetings


of the North American Blueberry Council, including this year’s spring meeting in Savannah, Georgia, and he says he always learns something. “They have done a super job promoting blueberries,” he noted, work that benefits everyone in the industry.


Formation of a national council in Canada would allow funds to be directed toward research that would also go toward promoting blueberry health and increase the berry’s popularity, he said. For instance, the latest research is


going on into the impact blueberries may have on diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, which


could be invaluable to growers in terms of increasing sales and value. Northwest blueberries are very


popular because of their good quality, partly because of the climate, including cooler August nights. But other countries are increasing their production, as well, so expanded markets will be needed to accept all the berries that are going to be produced in future, without lowering prices. Bates says they plan to plant a further 15 or 20 acres of blueberries because they believe good-quality fruit will always sell, so long as the grower is teamed up with a good processor and both treat each other fairly. In his spare time, Bates goes back


in time to when his ancestors farmed using horses. He raises Clydesdale work horses


as a hobby and uses them to plough in competitions and takes them in parades. He is a director of the Canadian Clydesdale Association and used to run the draft horse show at the PNE. It’s all part of his love of farming and his respect for tradition.


6 British Columbia Berry Grower • Summer 2013


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