38 FARMING opportunities


crops perceived as being high-value due to their undersupply in the region, Fehr says. Good marketing, great farming practices and business acumen are required to make them work. “Some of the crops definitely need more farming knowledge than others,” Fehr says. “For example, if someone wanted to grow hops, then they should contact a company that could provide information or even set up a field for them.” Rutherford grows 13 varieties of organic garlic and is looking to be a sustainable farmer. She also has organic eggs and about 20 varieties of herbs. She has obtained farm status, but wants to know more about how to advance her business and in what direction.


Business management Fehr gave participants an


overview of farm business management areas to prepare


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them for the demands of farming. This started with a self-assessment to establish a business plan and set goals, identify strengths and draw in additional resources as needed. He sees the workshop as essential training for new entrants to the farming marketplace. “Do you know if your


product is actually wanted in the market?” he asks.


Understanding the value of the farmer was a big part of Fehr’s marketing discussion. He outlined that knowing a farmer’s value as well as who they are, what they do and why they do it is part of building a brand. Fehr points to the wide range of opportunities to take that brand to market. A farmer’s personal brand will be on display with produce at a farmers’ market, at a food hub, through CSA boxes, to restaurants or through farmgate sales. The food hub concept that brings farmers together to sell food to retailers, restaurateurs and others, appeals to Rutherford. While not everything she grows fits the model, she’s curious to learn more as a result of the group’s discussion. “If you want to sell at a


farmers’ market, spend some time going to markets. Sit down and watch what people are buying. If you’re seeing 10 people selling kale, you probably don’t want to sell kale,” Fehr says. “Food hubs are growing in popularity. Check it out to see if it’s right for you. They’re a whole different way


nfrom page 37


of wholesaling.” Of course, selling includes


keeping records and Fehr stresses the importance of good record-keeping, not just from a sales perspective but also from an overall production perspective.


Record keeping “Set records up in such a


way that they will actually help you next year,” notes Fehr. “You might have really good intuition, but that usually comes from a lot of experience.” Records should include what was planted where, how it sold, weather reports, what system inputs were used, yields, any pests and other details that indicate why or how a crop performed in a certain way and how customers responded. “You have to know what


you’re selling and who you’re selling it to,” he says. “Identify one primary group [to sell to] and maybe three subsets. “It’s hard to pick one biggest mistake [new farmers make] across the board, but two common mistakes are not identifying a target market and the plan to reach them, and not fully identifying costs – actual dollars and time away from production – such as marketing and delivery.” Those looking for more


information on Fehr’s class and information on starting a farming operation or adding a new crop or activity into the mix, can view handouts and other materials at [www.ufv.ca/ace/learning- commons/].


High value crops Garry Fehr, director at the Agriculture Centre of Excellence


at University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), identified several crops that have a high-value for Lower Mainland growers on account of their rarity on local farms. These include:


Hazelnuts Hydrangeas Tulips


Bok Choy Gai Lan Spinach Swiss Chard


Bitter Gourd Cherry Tomatoes Edamame Okra Red Carrots Snap Peas Hops


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • AUGUST 2018


Signs of hope’s fulfilment


It’s been said that there


are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. While that may be a reasonable


Wannabe Farmer


by LINDA WEGNER


assumption, when it comes to growing food the two most unpredictable elements seem to be weather and a decent return on all the effort and expense that goes into growing or raising. Commercial or backyard plots, no amount of hard work or effort can


guarantee that things will turn out as we wish. For us, however, this year’s crop has been wonderful and unless one of those unwished-for variables makes an appearance, I have great hope for our neighbourhood and our locally small (but commercially viable) operations. Speaking of backyard


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gardens, I have to say that I’ve never been more excited about my vegetable garden. For too many years I was kept insanely busy with my career as a home-based business writer but now that I’m mostly retired from that work, there’s more time to spend weeding and nurturing, reaping and freezing the edibles. It’s a job that’s never finished, but it sure feels good to stand back and survey the results of my hard work. My enjoyment around digging in the dirt is only matched by the delight in preparing meals based on what produce I pick each day. Our local farmers’ market is flourishing as well. Case in point: arriving just two minutes after the official opening time this morning, I found myself at the end of a long line of shoppers. Approximately 15 minutes later, the vegetables I needed to supplement my own stock were already sold out.


When I approached Juhli Jobi, our manager, asking if there were features that set our market apart, she told me about the programs in place, some of them newly launched. In all honesty, I don’t know if they exist in other areas but they’re making a difference here. There’s a program


providing weekly $21 nutrition coupons to qualified participants. “Not only does this allow new moms, low- income families and seniors to come and buy fresh produce, eggs, nuts and frozen meat, it also helps


increase local food security, awareness of local food availability and allows additional funds to flow through our community… This is the first year that [our First Nation neighbours], Tla’amin Pre/Postnatal group, will also be participating,” she said. At the end of a market


day, vendors donate unsold goods to the local food bank, providing benefits to both farmers and producers and residents relying on the food bank for help in feeding themselves and/or their families. Both donors and recipients are thrilled that items such as eggs, fresh produce or fresh baking can now be distributed instead of potentially being wasted. And if that wasn’t enough, farmers are able to claim up to 25% of the total value of donations as charitable tax deductions. Weekends feature train


rides, live music, a public library story time and an annual travelling puppet show – all taking place on the market grounds. One final note and just in case someone came unprepared to carry home their purchases, the Boomerang Bags program makes reusable shopping bags available. Located in a large wooden bin and open to everyone to use, the only proviso is that they are to be returned so someone else can use them as well.


While admittedly there


are some things beyond our control, my hat goes off to those farmers and ranchers who don’t let uncertainty quench their love of the land or their commitment to helping feed our population. The size of the operation isn’t the only landmark of success; it’s the determination to carry on in spite of challenges. Without elaborating further, that’s just another reason to carefully consider the origin of the food we purchase. Just saying.


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