Kitimavik inspires career
Summerland orchardist Neal vander Helm discovered his love of farming through participation in the Kitimavik Program. The program offers young adults opportunities to gain life and work experience while contributing to community development through volunteerism.
“I stumbled into my interest in agriculture while working on a farm in Ontario,” vander Helm said.
He had signed up with Kitimavik after realizing he did not want to pursue a career in engineering.
After retuning to his hometown of Abbotsford, vander Helm registered for part-time horticultural courses which led to a diploma from the University of the Fraser Valley.
While at UFV, he met his wife, Camilla Diaz, who is currently the agriculture lender for the Bank of Montreal in Penticton.
The couple have a 16-month old daughter, Catalina.
Vander Helm completed his studies with a bachelor of applied science degree in production horticulture from Olds College in Alberta.
Returning to the Fraser Valley, he spent several years as the manager of a vineyard, as a consultant for the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture doing inspections for crop insurance claims and working in a wood shop.
His career as a fruit grower began five years ago when he joined Laughing Coyote Orchards in Summerland.
“Laughing Coyote is a company that leases land. I’m in it with my uncle and aunt, Neal and Louisa Carter, and cousin, Joel Carter,” vander Helm explained.
With the support of Neal and Louisa’s extensive experience, vander Helm is quickly honing his fruit growing skills.
“Because land is so expensive, leasing provides a great way for young people to get into agriculture,” he said.
Currently, Laughing Coyote leases about 45 acres in four different locations.
At each location, vander Helm and his cousin upgrade the orchards by replacing older varieties of cherries and apples with new ones and introducing more efficient horticultural techniques, such as the V trellis for apples.
On the property of Enio and Mary Leardo, who retired from a career of producing award-winning fruit, vander Helm replaced an acre of Nicola apples with Ambrosia.
Older varieties of cherries will be replaced by late maturing Sentinential and Staccato.
The value of late varieties can be as much as twice that of an older variety such as Lapins, vander Helm explained.
“Last year we planted three empty acres at the Dickinson Family Farm with Staccato and Sentinential,” he said. Close to two acres of pears have been pulled out and will be replanted with the same two cherry varieties.
Laughing Coyote has its own tree nursery to reduce the cost of new plantings.
“Government grants for replanting have resulted in an increase of several dollars in the cost of each tree,” vander Helm said.
Laughing Coyote’s ability to expand is limited by the need for a secure year-round labour force.
“We are looking for two full-time year-round employees to help Joel, Ravinder and myself,” he said. Laughing Coyote employs about 30 seasonal workers to harvest cherries and another 15 for apples.
Last year, thanks to an agreement between Canada and the European Union, workers from Spain, France, Germany and Czechoslovakia were hired; some will be returning this year.
Until this year, Laughing Coyote sold its fruit through Apple House in Washington State.
“They’re having a hard time selling Canadian fruit because of the ‘buy America’ push,” vander Helm said.
This season Sutherland S.A. Produce, Fairview Orchards Packing house and Krazy Cherry Fruit, all in Oliver, will market Laughing Coyote Fruit. Earlier this year, vander Helm was elected for a third term on the board of the B.C. Cherry Association.
“I think the cherry industry has a strong future with room to grow,” he said.
Susan McIver is a Penticton writer with a keen interest in agriculture. She can be reached by faxing the Herald at (250) 492-2403.