up front By Bryden Winsby


Never say never for niche products S


uccess is never automatic. Sometimes it results fromgood


luck, rather than good management, butmore often it depends onmaking the right decisions at the right time, on staying abreast of technological change and responding well to shifting market demands. Andmore. Sometimes success is elusive despite


one's knowledge and abilities. The berry industry is no exception.


which is why it's hard not to be impressed with the directions taken by Abel O'Brennan and Coastal Black, the focus of our cover story this issue, in expanding a Vancouver Island dairy farminto an operation that includes fresh and processed berries, and, perhapsmost ambitiously, fruit wine. The explosion of grape wineries


during the past two decades, not just in the Okanagan Valley but also the LowerMainland and the Island, has meant several hundred operations vying formarket share,much of it still within the province's borders. Some of themare hugely successful, but others are floundering. Even those who just grow grapes and leave the winemaking to others have no assurance of profitability. This year, for example,


has seen an oversupply,mostly of merlot. No cause for alarm, really, but is


there roomfor a lotmore berry growers to elbow their way into the fermented beverage arena? Well, never say never, especially for niche products, and when there could be an enormous demand for themin Asia, and China in


particular. There are predictions of a global


wine shortage, due in part to increased consumption in China and the United States, and to decreased European production, particularly in France, Spain and Italy, the world’s three top producers. They’re having to deal with shrinking rural land supply and climate issues. The situation isn't going unnoticed.


For example, Chile, which has become a big player in the global blueberry industry, is now the fifth largest exporter of wines in the world, and the ninth largest producer. It too is looking to the Far East for its blues and booze, even though there is still strong demand for both inNorth America. So, just as the B.C. grape wine


industry rose fromnear oblivion in the late 1980s to the success story it is today, there could be a great future in store for those who canmake and


Washington Small Fruit Conference & Lynden Ag Show December 5 & 6, 2013


NW Washington Fairgrounds


WA Tractor Arena


Henry Bierlink 360-354-1337 WA Red Raspberry Commission


Diane O’Neill 360-306-1445 Event Coordinator


www.regonline.com/sfclas_2013 4 British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2013-14


market fine wine fromother kinds of berries. Success is unlikely, though, for those


who simply wait for the stars to align themselves or for Dame Fortune to smile.


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