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Success on the double


Technology and traditional farming methods help give Sahota twins amarketing edge.


By Judie Steeves B


rothers Ricki and Newton Sahota of Pitt Meadows have set up their diversified blueberry operation so they can operate it from a South Seas island—if they wish.


Using the latest technology, they can literally keep track of everything in the palm of their hand, whether that hand is nearby or far away.


And, it is that modern technology they have married with traditional farming in order to create a many- branched, diverse operation. The family farm, NRK Sahota Blueberry Farm (for Newton, Ricki and their cousin Karn), is owned by their uncle, Parmjit Sahota and their mom, Harjinder Sahota.


“They are the farmers,” says Ricki, adding with a grin, “We don’t pick berries. We’re not very good.” Instead, they are the sales and marketing arm of the family, while Harjinder deals with the wholesale side, selling to grocery stores like IGA and small stores, locally.


The family began with 40 acres in 1986, and it has grown to 160 acres now, with 10 acres in strawberries and a


JUDIE STEEVES


Newton Sahota, left, and twin brother Ricki don’t pick the family farm’s berries — they sell ‘em.


few in raspberries, but predominantly blueberries. There can be 150 pickers working in the fields during the summer, but there’s a year-round core of 10 or 12 on staff.


They not only sell fruit, but also raspberry and blueberry plants, as they start all their own in their greenhouses. From picking their first blueberries on a neighbouring farm in 1983, then planting their own fields in later years, they say they have learned a great work ethic.


“We have no sense of entitlement,” is the comment.


Although both began working on the farm as youngsters, they went on to quite different careers, with Ricki becoming an environmental engineer and Newton a chef with a degree in dietetics.


They are now using their training and


experience in their respective fields to further their own company, which they started in 2005, Twin Berry Farm Products Inc.


The name was the result of a brain- storming session, and is derived from the fact the brothers are identical twins. A friend selected that name out of several they had come up with, and he had the logo done in his head when he first saw it, says Ricki.


One of their first projects was the GoodBerry Program, an idea they came up with in 2004 as a result of Ricki casually arranging at his office to supply flats of the family’s blueberries for those of the 60 employees who were interested.


A quick e-mail around the office resulted in sales of 200 five-pound boxes.


The program is now affiliated with British Columbia Berry Grower • Fall 2010 9


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