The Abbotsford Growers Co-op has 250,000 pounds of static frozen blueberries to sell. According to Stephen Evens of the Co-op, “Its great product – low stems with great colour.”
To get in touch with Stephen you can email him here or phone him at: 604-864-0022
Abbotsford Growers Co-operative Union
Abbotsford Growers Co-operative Union has been the leading processor and packer of small fruits, primarily raspberries, in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada, since 1947. It has played a significant role in the economic life of a number of Mennonite farmers throughout the Fraser Valley, especially in the early years of Mennonite settlement in the Abbotsford area, and is an example of the strength of the co-operative movement amongst Mennonite settlements in western Canada.
The organizational meeting of the Beeren Gesellschaft (Berry Co-operative) was held on 1 December 1947. The purpose of the meeting was to form a local Berry Co-op “so that we could receive and wash our own berries.” Three months later on 4 March 1948 Abbotsford Growers Co-operative Union was incorporated. Elected to the first board of directors were: Jacob Janzen, President; Abram J. Dyck, Vice President; J. H. Lepp, Secretary; Johann Friesen, Member at large; and D. E. Friesen, Member at large. The list of 90 charter members included exclusively Mennonite individuals from the surrounding area including Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Clayburn, Matsqui, and Mt. Lehman.
In November 1992 at a board retreat meeting at the Hazelmere Golf and Country Club chaired by Sam Schartner, a Mission Statement was prepared. It read: “To exceed member and customer expectations in quality of service and quality of product.”
Although strawberries as well as blueberries have been processed and packed at Abbotsford Growers during its 62-year history, the main crop has been raspberries. A total of 80,000 pounds was processed in 1948. This grew to a total of 16 million pounds processed at its peak in 1987. Abbotsford Growers has served and continues to serve the farmers of the Fraser Valley processing 8.5 million pounds in 2009.
Mennonites of the Fraser Valley were the pioneers of this berry enterprise. Eventually, non-Mennonites also joined the co-operative. A steady influx of Indo-Canadians into the Fraser Valley resulted in the gradual change in farmland ownership beginning in 1974 when the 40 acre raspberry farm of H. H. Falk on Huntingdon Road was purchased by K. S. (Cher) Braich. Other farm sales to Indo-Canadians soon followed, and today the bulk of the raspberry crop is grown on Indo-Canadian farms.
The farm labor force during the harvest season of the early years consisted mainly of Mennonite family units. This began changing when land ownership shifted. By the turn of the century most of the farm labor force consisted of Indo-Canadian family units as well as contract pickers, again mostly Indo-Canadians. In recent years Mexican farm workers have come as far north as the Fraser Valley and they have been working alongside Canadians as farm laborers. It must also be noted that much of the harvesting of the raspberry crop is now done by machine.
In 1952 the need for a sales manager became apparent and Jake Klassen was hired to serve in this capacity. In 1972 Jake Martens took on the marketing responsibility. He has served in this capacity for well over 30 years. General managers have included Doug Edgar and Stephen Evans.
The following have served as board chairman: Jacob Janzen, Alex Bauman, Albert I. Dyck, D. E. Friesen, Frank J. Doerksen, Henry Veer, Sam Schartner, and Moe Gill. Plant managers who have served Abbotsford Growers over the years include: Abe Olfert, J. H. Lepp, David J. Wiebe, Nick Harder, John Balzer, Bernie Koop, Ted Janssen, Will Jesse, and Roger Moody.
Abbotsford Growers Co-operative Union proudly displays a sign south of the Trans-Canada Highway that reads: “Abbotsford, Raspberry Capital of Canada.”
