38
Country Life in BC • October 2016 The changing face of farming in Pemberton
by TAMARA LEIGH PEMBERTON – The
Pemberton Valley may be best known for its potatoes, but farming in the area is quickly diversifying to serve new markets. The idyllic setting and fertile soil is increasingly being recognized for its agricultural potential and improvements to the Sea to Sky highway have made the three-million person market to the south all
Country Ways
that much more accessible. “The valley is still primarily a seed potato growing area, but there’s a lot more going on. Agri-tourism is a big deal, and our organic industry is growing as well,” says Anna Helmer, president of the Pemberton Farmers’ Institute. “We are seeing trends towards community supported agriculture (CSA), mixed vegetables, market vegetables, berries and hops. It’s generally on smaller acreages and really labour intensive work.” For decades, the Pemberton Valley’s claim to fame came from their virus and disease- free status, but as tissue culture has become the standard for propagation, the
markets are changing. Speaking to the board of the Investment Agriculture Foundation during their annual regional tour in June, elite seed potato grower John Beks of Shaw Creek Farm explained the impact on the sector.
“For quite a few years, Pemberton was the only place that had virus-free and disease-free status and it was lucrative because people were after our stuff, so we were selling a lot more product and had more seed growers,” says Beks who is vice- president of the BC Certified Seed Potato Association. “We were selling to Alberta, Saskatchewan. They are now doing what we’re doing, so our market has dwindled a little bit over the years.”
In recent years, the BC Certified Seed Potato Association has secured funding to help increase awareness of the seed potato industry locally through the Government of British Columbia’s Buy Local program and internationally through the Canada-BC Agrifoods Export program funding by Growing Forward 2. Many of the older seed potato growers are retiring and the math doesn’t add up for the next generation to stay
in business.
“To make a living growing seed potatoes, you have to be growing around 70 acres per year and we’re mandated to have a three year rotation. That means you have to have access to 200 acres to grow potatoes and it’s tough to put together,” explains Anna Helmer, who grows organic table potatoes. “It’s hard to imagine paying $5 million for your 200-acre farm, buying all this equipment and then selling your potatoes for 20 cents per pound.” Helmer is the fourth generation to take over her family’s farm, Helmer Organics. With a focus on farmers’ markets in Vancouver, she gets an average price of $2 per pound and grows seven acres of potatoes instead of 70. The opportunities go far beyond farmers’ markets.
“Almost every restaurant in Whistler has a Pemberton potato and there’s a market waiting to be filled by a wash and pack product with a Pemberton name attached to it,” she says. “I think it’s something about the soil we have here that produces a better tasting potato.” Closer to home, Pemberton Distillery has developed ongoing local demand for potatoes. The company sources 40,000 tonnes of Pemberton organic potatoes
Pemberton seed potato grower John Beks explains tissue culture to IAF board and staff during a tour of the region earlier this summer. (Tamara Leigh photo)
each year to produce their trademark vodka.
Beyond potatoes, local businesses like Whistler-based Caveman Grocer are looking for reliable suppliers of local meat and produce to meet the growing demand. The company delivers fresh and frozen prepared paleo meals to customers throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and has recently launched a food truck in Whistler.
“Everything that we provide is locally sourced, free-range, pasture-raised meats,” says Kara McMaster, co-founder of Caveman Grocer. “We have a new relationship with a farm in
Pemberton called Laughing Crow Organics and we’ve worked pretty closely with them over the last year to make sure they can keep up with our demand.” One of the biggest
challenges for Pemberton, as with other regions of BC, is keeping farmland in production. The Pemberton Farmers’ Institute is actively promoting the value of agriculture to the local economy, as well as in ensuring the availability of locally-produced food in the future.
“Farming is a really See “DIVERSITY” page 39 Less bawling, less wandering and feeding faster for healthier calves.
Wednesday January 25, 2017 Quality Hotel &Conference Centre
proudly sponsored by: Reserve
your tickets now! space is limited
Sponsor
support our gala new options available
EST MAXI BLOC
of stress.
vitamin and trace mineral requirements.
Rite-LixTM
Maxi Bloc 14% all natural
AVAILABLE AT MASTERFEEDS DEALERS AND MILL LOCATIONS ACROSS WESTERN CANADA.
TERFEEDS TIO DA
IONS S
celebrating Canada’s 150 years
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
