cover story
Everyone can have a voice
Blueberry council’sMikeMakara would like to see a lotmore grower involvement with industry organizations. By Judie Steeves
M
ike Makara believes strongly in the importance of growers becoming involved in organizations that are lobbying for changes to benefit their industry and working on research and development to ensure a good future for the industry. It’s not enough to just belong, to sign up and pay your annual dues. “That’s not the same as being involved,” he says. “You must participate and be politically active.”
Makara is chair of the B.C. Blueberry Council and has served on its executive off and on since it began. He was a founding director.
He says it was started at the urging of the provincial government because government was moving away from supporting agriculture with specialists, no longer offering extension services that helped educate and provide expertise for growers.
“Government tried to wiggle its way out of putting money towards such specialists.”
He says the council is always looking for farmers willing to become politically involved, to commit to help others in the industry.
Freshly back from a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where the North American Blueberry Council and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council met in early October, Makara says he has been involved for many years in both organizations, including serving as president of the NABC, and he is still on several committees. The NABC was formed in 1964 and is a volunteer organization involved in lobby efforts on behalf of the industry.
On the other hand, the USHBC is mandated by the U.S. JUDIE STEEVES
Mike Makara has devoted many years to participating in provincial and international activities aimed at furthering the interests of blueberry producers.
Department of Agriculture and is a marketing commission that involves not only American growers, but also Canadian growers who ship to the U.S. and who pay a levy of six cents a pound toward research and promotion. Two-thirds to three-quarters of B.C. blueberries are sold into the U.S., notes Makara.
B.C. growers Parm Bains and Ray Biln are also involved and attended the October annual meetings, but Makara would like to see more B.C. producers attending such gatherings because he feels it’s important to the success of their operations.
“If you want to see where the industry is going, who your competitors are, and how you relate in entering new markets, it’s crucial you learn which countries they’re from and which major global shippers are shipping where. “Then you can plan—or adapt your plans—for the future accordingly,” he explains.
As well, by attending such international meetings you British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2011-12
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