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Building on success


Diversification has played a key part in the continued growth of the Hopcott family farming operation.


By Tamara Leigh I


t is increasingly rare for the third generation to stay on the farm, but theHopcott family is building on success in berries and beef to grow new opportunities for the


younger generation. Today, three of Bob and Debbie Hopcott’s children and their spouses are involved in the family business. “That’s what diversification does,” says BobHopcott. “If


you just stay in one area, you just have dairy or beef, it’s hard to include all your family.When you diversify there are somany avenues for themto get involved.” Bob is the second generation to work theHopcott family


farm.His parents, Fred and JaneHopcott, bought the 105- acre property in PittMeadows for $9,000 in 1932. They


TAMARA LEIGH


Bob Hopcott, left and son Travis, whose brother Brad and sister Jennifer also have a strong commitment to keeping their Pitt Meadows operation thriving.


moved fromthe original family farmonHopcott Road in Ladner to start dairy farming, andmilked cows for 25 years. Then in 1957, they sold the dairy herd to pursue Fred’s dreamof raising beef cattle. “As soon as dairy went frommilk cans to having to spend


a lot ofmoney on bulk storage and tanks, dad got out and went into beef,” explains Bob. “I never knew the dairy, that was beforemy time.” Bob shares his father’s love of cattle, and eventually came


on as a full partner in the farm. After years in the cattle business, he watched as the industry shifted andmarkets move fromVancouver to Alberta. “All the packinghouses left and went to Alberta, so we


didn’t have anywhere to sell our cattle,” he recounts. “At the same time Ocean Spray was looking for acreage, which they don’t often do.We applied to Ocean Spray and got in.” In 1996, the family transformed 75


acres of pasture fromcow silage into cranberry bogs. It was a significant investment of time and capital to develop the dyking, reservoirs, pump house and irrigation. “I givemy dad tons of credit,” says


Polytunnels on Hopcott Farm extend the growing season by up to three weeks and remove some weather-related production variables.


TAMARA LEIGH 8 British Columbia Berry Grower • Fall 2013


TravisHopcott, who co-manages the cranberry operation with his father. “It’s a huge upfront cost and the banks love you. It can cost up to $30,000 per acre for 75 acres, and you don’t get your first harvest for up to four years. It’s a big risk, but it turned out that it worked.” As the cattle industry continued to


decline, the investment in cranberries started to pay off,making it possible, and profitable, to continue farming. Today, cranberries account for over half of


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