Editor:
Re: Mr. Jeffrey Stone’s letter Apr. 6.
It would be nice if people could get their facts correct instead of blaming the wrong things for what happened in the past.
When I came to this Valley in 1965 as a Dairy specialist we had a raw milk vendor at Houston and one at Terrace.
We also had a local pasteurizing plant processing his own milk - Bulkley Valley Dairy.
We had the local dairy plant – Lakelse Dairy which moved it’s plant to Kitimat to be nearer it’s market. FVMPCA – Dairyland later took this over and built a new plant in Smithers — now the Depot.
Only local milk was processed here which had to supply the market in Rupert, Terrace and Kitimat.
Needless to say although every incentive was tried there were not enough producers, cows or cleared land to met the market.
The customer demanded milk so it had to be brought in from the Fraser Valley.
Nothing to do with big bogey subsidies.
Vegetables- Dave Havard for many years grew commercial crops, we tried a vegetable packing plant but volume is always what gets you and as highways got better so did the ease of transportation.
There were numerous vegetable growers in Terrace, Cedarvale, Hazelton and around Smithers. There is a certified seed grower here also.
What was always the problem?
I have until last year always grown my own veggies and fruit but how many people have enough room on their lot to do that let alone other people.
The somewhat abysmal efforts of some public gardens around town makes one wonder. Who are you growing for the wealthy elite or the general population.
Some say just because you grow it yourself and take it to the farmer’s market you can charge whatever – that’s not the way to get people converted, especially with so many in financial difficulty.
Like we did with the slaughter plant go find your market and know what you are dealing before you start bleating about the big companies.
As an aside none of our local products ever had to compete with subsidized products or any different regulations from any one else.
Graeme Johnstone
P.Ag Dairy Specialist 1965-72, District Agriculturalist, 1972-92