cover story


Beyond strawberries


Likemany in the industry, Driediger Farms has diversified successfully into other berries, producing top quality over a shorter time.


By Judie Steeves A


s an 11-year-old berry picker, Rhonda Driediger didn’t make the grade. She and a girlfriend had hired on to the family farm to pick strawberries one summer. “We


got fired,” she grins.


But, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be a good salesperson, administrator and visionary, and it didn’t stop her from eventually taking over the family farm and expanding it. Today, Driediger Farms of Langley is a brand that’s known around North America for its quality berries, but historically it was based on its strawberries. The family operation was among the largest strawberry farms in B.C. at one time. Along with others in the berry industry, it diversified from its strawberry beginnings, moving first into raspberries, and then into blueberries as well. Today, there are also a few acres of currants, rhubarb, pumpkins and blackberries, for a total of 160 acres.


Much of that diversification was to lengthen the season they could offer fresh produce off the farm in their fruit stand and provide a variety of products for customers over the two months a year it’s open.


“We’re known for our strawberries, so although it’s no longer a large part of what we do, we need to continue to grow flavourful berries.


“We produce really good berries for a short time. I don’t think we should try to grow them all year,” she comments, especially at the cost of flavour.


Driediger says that, ironically, the brand is probably known better on the east coast of North America than it is in B.C.


Although their strawberries and raspberries are sold in


B.C. and Alberta, it’s mostly blueberries that are shipped further afield, she notes. They even ship to Iceland, although predominantly the markets are in Canada. Not only do they pack and sell their own blueberries, but also berries from other local growers, which are purchased at the scale by Driediger Farms.


JUDIE STEEVES


Since taking over the family farm, Rhonda Driediger has become a major player in the province’s berry industry.


However, before accepting a new grower, she says they inspect the farm to ensure only good fruit is taken.


All Driediger products are also available retail, from the fruit stand, and a significant u-pick


operation is part of that side of the business as well. Like many of today’s farmers, she has embraced the latest technology and her portable phone is never far from her ear—so she can be inspecting root rot in a raspberry field at the same time she is directing work at the packing plant. Driediger is president of the B.C. Raspberry Growers’ Association and past director of the Raspberry Industry Development Council.


She has represented berries and field vegetables on the B.C. Agriculture Council since 2007 and spent six years representing that sector on the Investment Agriculture Foundation. She is a member of the Minister’s Trade Advisory Council and the Canadian Hort Council’s SAWP


British Columbia Berry Grower • Fall 2010 5


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