Day in the Life

Pick of the Crop

Thanks to a dedicated group of greenhouse operators, delicious, locally grown fruits and vegetables are as close as the nearest market.

Story by Debbie Olsen •  Photography by Ewan Nicholson

If you have ever doubted the truth of the old saying "It's a small world," all you need do is visit the produce section of your local grocery store. With pineapples from Chile, cantaloupes from Mexico and apples from Washington, it doesn't take long to realize that agriculture has become a global marketplace. Most of us are so accustomed to purchasing produce from far-flung locales that we might even assume that all the vegetables and fruits we see at the supermarket are imported, but the fact is that Alberta has a growing fruit and vegetable industry and some of the produce in the supermarket is grown right here at home. Unless you look at the label on a bag of peppers or examine the sticker on a cucumber closely before purchasing it, you may not even realize that you are buying a locally grown product.

More than 13,000 acres of Alberta land are currently devoted to vegetable and fruit production and Alberta's greenhouse vegetable industry is the fourth largest in Canada. "Alberta produces more vegetables and fruit each year than most people realize," says Robert Spencer, irrigated and specialty crops specialist with Alberta Agriculture. "Some of that produce is sold to food processors, some is marketed directly to consumers via on-farm sales and farmers' markets, and some goes to the wholesale market to ultimately be sold in supermarkets. Vegetable and fruit production is an important part of Alberta's agricultural sector." 

Some of the major vegetable crops produced in Alberta include potatoes, beans, beets, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, peas, pumpkins, spinach, lettuce, squash, corn, tomatoes, carrots and peppers. There are many other crops that are grown in smaller amounts that can also be purchased locally such as celery, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, radishes and rutabagas.

As people are becoming more health conscious, they are consuming more fruits and vegetables and the demand for high quality vegetables and fruit is growing. Despite this, Alberta's vegetable and fruit producers face challenges that producers in other provinces may not encounter. "Our harsh climate and short growing season make it difficult to grow certain crops outside a greenhouse. With the possibility of snow in June or even in August, hardy varieties of fruits and vegetables are usually best for our climate. Prairie hardy cherries, native fruits or vegetables with a shorter growing season are examples of produce that do well in our climate," explains Spencer.

"Other difficulties producers may face include high energy costs for greenhouse growers, labour shortages, and difficulty competing in markets with products grown at lower costs in other parts of Canada or the world. There are also some issues with pests and diseases, but Alberta producers generally have fewer problems in that regard due to our colder climate," he says.

With all the challenges faced by vegetable and fruit producers, it takes a special kind of person to be successful and enjoy working in fruit and vegetable production in Alberta. Many producers have been involved for decades or even generations and enjoy the challenge. "Growing fruit is absolutely fascinating! The tough climate makes it challenging sometimes, but that is part of the appeal," says Arden Delidais, of DNA Gardens near Elnora. Arden and her husband Dave Delidais have been growing fruit for more than 30 years on their farm.

The couple chose their company name by combining the initials of their first names and, despite what the term DNA might otherwise suggest, they only use traditional methods of plant propagation on their farm. "It takes many generations to improve plant varieties, but today we can grow so much more than we ever thought was possible 30 years ago. We work closely with plant breeders and are constantly testing new varieties of plants. For example, we have more than 17 varieties of saskatoons on our farm along with other kinds of fruit including Russian honeyberries and three new types of pin cherries. We also have our own tissue culture lab, so we can perform old-fashioned plant propagation efficiently in test tubes."

Like the Delidais family, many of Alberta's vegetable greenhouse operators have been involved in this sector of agriculture for years. The origin of Alberta's greenhouse crops industry dates back more than a century to 1905 when Dutch and German settlers began plant production under protective cultivation.

Over many years this industry slowly grew until demand for high quality fresh vegetables caused the industry to boom. Since 1970, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD) has contributed resources to the growth and development of the greenhouse industry. Between 1990 and 2003, the area of land devoted to greenhouse production in Alberta increased by more than 100%.

While some vegetable greenhouse operators market their produce independently, many remain competitive by working together through co-operatives, when a group of growers joins together to market, package and sell their products. Red Hat Co-op, a co-operative of vegetable greenhouse operators near Redcliff has seen a lot of growth and change in the market since they were founded in 1966. "There were only 10 founding members of the co-op, but today there are 45 greenhouse operators involved. Many of our current members are second or third generation greenhouse operators," says Blaine Andres, of Red Hat Co-operative.

"A co-operative approach allows producers to keep prices competitive and compete in the wholesale market. Co-ops can also purchase fertilizers and other supplies in large quantities and save costs for their members." Red Hat Co-operative along with Pick-N-Pack in the central region of the province, market all of Alberta's major greenhouse vegetable crops, including cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes, tomatoes on the vine and peppers of all colours.

Whether it's fruit or vegetable production, there is no denying that it takes a lot of hard work and innovation to be successful. As Albertans continue to demand high quality, fresh produce, this market will continue to expand. And while it is wonderful to be able access unique fruits and vegetables from locales around the world, sometimes it's nice to enjoy the bounty in your own backyard.

Finding Local Produce

Farmers' Markets: Farmers' markets provide a unique opportunity for growers to sell their vegetables and fruits directly to consumers. In many cases, markets also allow consumers the opportunity to interact with growers and learn more about where their food comes from. For more information on Alberta's farmers' markets, visit www.sunnygirl.ca. 

U-Pick Farms: The freshest vegetables and fruits are the ones you pick yourself right off the vine. For a listing of U-Pick farms and the seasons for specific vegetables visit www.albertafarmfresh.com.

Regional Cuisine Restaurants: Regional Cuisine is locally grown ingredients in union with the culture, history, and geography of the area. Enjoying regional cuisine at your favourite restaurant is another way to access locally grown produce. Many restaurants will identify regional cuisine right on their menus, but if you're not sure if the restaurant you are dining at offers regional cuisine options, it's a good idea to ask.

Supermarkets: It may be a small world, but even in a global marketplace, you can find fruits and vegetables that were grown close to home. Read the labels on the bag of potatoes, carrots, or peppers before putting them into your shopping cart. Look at the stickers on your fruits and vegetables to see where they were produced. If you can't tell which fruits and vegetables are grown locally, just ask the produce manager.

Sweet Success

Alberta's fruit industry is growing and changing. New research has helped to develop hardy plant varieties and producers are growing crops that at one time were impossible to grow in our climate. New hardy varieties of apples, pears, plums, and cherries are already being grown at farms like Orchard Palace near Brosseau, Alberta. Other more traditional varieties of fruit crops like crab apples, sour cherries, saskatoons, raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb, currants, chokecherries, and cranberries are gaining in popularity as consumers realize the health benefits of these fruits.

New fruits are also being introduced to Alberta consumers such as Russian honeyberries, a type of blue honeysuckle that is said to be similar to blueberries, and Asian sea buckthorn, a berry fruit that has been grown and used medicinally in China for centuries. It takes a few years for fruit trees and bushes to mature and produce, but the future holds much promise for us to enjoy and taste more varieties of Alberta grown fruits.