34 TOUR
longer in the herds, so we need less replacement. I don’t want to milk every cow in the world. I want to be sustainable.”
Supplying dairy farms like
Toop’s is what the Pacific Dairy Centre hangs its hat on, and co-owner John Bruinsma notes the move from Abbotsford to Chilliwack last February has been positive for the company. “Our business is more
bringing stuff to farms rather than people coming in,” he says. “We are very specialized in dairy.”
The $2.4 million building is on 10 acres. Half the property is rented to other companies. The business’ five acres is the right size for chemical blending, parts supplies, a fabrication and repair area and other aspects of the business. “We blend our own
detergents and acids here,” Bruinsma says. “[Dairies] can’t run out of chemicals.” Recognizing the
importance of keeping dairies supplied, Pacific Dairy Centre offers “route trucks” which deliver supplies to farms throughout the Fraser Valley. They also sell and implement robotic milkers. They installed the first robotic rotary parlour in Canada at Vyefield Farms. Dairy has thrived in
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Chilliwack for decades as have cut flowers. Second- generation Quik’s Farm now has three locations growing in greenhouses and outdoors for the retail, wholesale and direct-sale markets. It produces 8.5 million stems a year. “Chain-store direct sales –
that’s where the demand has been,” says Leo Quik. “The demand has been less and less for wholesale.” Because of the short shelf
life of cut flowers, Quik’s focuses on quality, efficiency and innovation to be a leader in the industry. The Quiks grow their own cuttings and do their own propagation in order to control the outcomes. One innovation is a $100,000 Holland-built planting machine. It cuts shallow holes in the soil and plants the peat-plug flower cuttings. The cube plugs sit mostly on top of the soil and send roots down. “We did many trials years
ago,” Leo’s older brother Andries Quik says of the planting machine. “This was actually better [than planting the plugs flush to the soil].” Hot steam is used to
sterilize the soil and eliminate pathogens as organic material is added regularly. Bugs remain a challenge in
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2018
Against a backdrop of seedlings and, in the distance, flowers being harvested for sale, Andries Quik explained why they keep propogation in-house. RONDA PAYNE PHOTO
the greenhouses. Thrips are the biggest pest in the summer months and the Quiks use integrated pest management as well as screens on their greenhouse vents to keep pests to a minimum. “We’re always harvesting and we’re always planting,”
says Leo. In addition to pests, labour
is often a challenge and the Quiks make use of SAWP workers. Another challenge the family faces is getting national buyers to understand the value of better-quality local products. “There’s going to be new
The BC Young Farmers would like to thank our 2018 sponsors.
www.bcyf.ca
Your support and generosity is building the next generation of farmers in BC. Through your support, BCYF held several events for farmers aged 19 to 40 in 2018. These events provided educational material in a social setting – BCYF members learn important business principles that we incorporated into the management of the family farm. BCYF events provide important networking opportunities for BCYF members as we meet with fellow young farmers, business leaders, and educators.
Without your generous support BCYF would not have been able to hold events for our members. On behalf of BCYF Directors and members we thank you and look forward to working with you in 2019 as we continue to provide educational and networking opportunities for BCYF members – the next generation of BC’s farmers.
Our program in 2018 included:
promote the work that BCYF does and recruit new members.
Directors and future BCYF directors to national agricultural issues and world-class networking and education opportunities.
and networking opportunities. This year we held several different tours in the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan
challenges again,” notes Andries. “We’re certainly able to take them on.” That willingness to take on
future challenges will continue to keep these Chilliwack’s farmers and farm suppliers in business whatever opportunities and issues the future holds.
Farm Fest
2018 Saturday, November 10th
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Join fellow young farmers for a half day of educational sessions & networking.
Lunch will be a taco bar. The event should end at 3:30 PM. The keynote speaker is Andrew Campbell sponsored by FCC speaking on Agvocacy.
The event is free, but space is limited.
Doors open at 11:00 AM for registration. Please visit our website
www.bcyf.ca
for more information and to register.
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