I Love Creston February 2019 feature

A Growing business

It is no secret the Creston Valley has a rich, diverse agricultural presence with an abundance of farmland and agriculture related businesses.  The two biggest community events – the Blossom Festival and the Fall Fair – both pay homage to our agricultural history with the Fall Fair celebrating its’ 100th in 2018.  We see examples of it in our daily lives in all corners of the valley – from pastures to vineyards to orchards to gardens, driving alongside tractors and hay wagons or driving past the iconic grain elevators downtown.  We shop at the numerous commercial fruit and vegetable stands, dozens of roadside and farm gate sales, and the award-winning Creston Valley Farmers’ Market.  Local eateries celebrate local foods (and drink) and we take advantage of the 10 Mile Diet.

I Love Creston February 2019 feature

It is no secret the Creston Valley has a rich, diverse agricultural presence with an abundance of farmland and agriculture related businesses.  The two biggest community events – the Blossom Festival and the Fall Fair – both pay homage to our agricultural history with the Fall Fair celebrating its’ 100th in 2018.  We see examples of it in our daily lives in all corners of the valley – from pastures to vineyards to orchards to gardens, driving alongside tractors and hay wagons or driving past the iconic grain elevators downtown.  We shop at the numerous commercial fruit and vegetable stands, dozens of roadside and farm gate sales, and the award-winning Creston Valley Farmers’ Market.  Local eateries celebrate local foods (and drink) and we take advantage of the 10 Mile Diet.

The longtime home of Kokanee beer, the value-added ag industry has boomed the last several years with wines, cheeses, juice, jams and jellies, meats, milk, confectionaries, local grains, honey, and more in the works.  Creston cherries are famous the world over and the valley is gaining attention for its’ collaborative Fields Forward initiative.

Not lost in all of this abundance is the need to supply our many farmers and market gardeners with wares to help grow their business. One such business is Creston Growers Supply located at 754 – 35th Avenue South in Erickson.  Owned by growers to supply growers, their goal is to “assist in producing the highest quality crops possible”. The location is managed by Grant Penn and includes four full-time employees with an additional seasonal employee.

The Creston location has served many purposes including a fruit packing shed, a curling rink and a third party warehouse.  The 52,000 square foot warehouse has operated under several names, most recently Okanagan Tree Fruit Coop, BC Tree Fruits and since 2014, Growers Supply.

Growers Supply has served the agriculture community for over seventy-five years.  They are a full-service wholesale farm supply business that offers a variety of products from crop protection for orchards and vineyards, farm products, lawn and garden supplies, and irrigation equipment.  “Our main business is providing the crop inputs that growers require, typically tailored to the commercial farmer”, said Penn.

As a warehouse registered under the Agricultural Warehousing Standards Association, Creston Growers Supply sells regulated fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides.  There are two certified pesticide dispensers on staff, including Penn.  The dispensers assist with compliance to BC Environment’s Integrated Pest Management Act which regulates the sale, storage, and use of pesticides.  For the commercial products (names such as Ignite, Cantus, Delegate, Grazon XC, and Rozol) you have to either have an acreage suitable for generating a farm income (that is, not a home gardener) or have a pesticide applicators license.

Other items such as organic fertilizers, landscape fabric, and packaging (produce bags, fruit boxes, and Keyes fibre baskets) are available for both small and large scale farmers to purchase.  Many of the products are available only in bulk sizes. “We are not a true retail store, as is the case with the other Growers Supply locations in the Okanagan”, Penn noted.  “You can’t walk in and pick things off a shelf.  We work with the professional growers to bring in the supplies they need in a timely fashion.  For the backyard gardener, we typically refer them to our local retail partners.”  They do stock popular and seasonal items; things like nutrients, sprays required for the fruit industry, orchard ladders, grafting/pruning supplies, and packaging.

“We also offer specialty services such as soil testing and tissue analysis as well as professional irrigation design”, Penn added.  Growers Supply partners with other organizations to further assist growers.  In the summer they work with BC Tree Fruits who receive, grade, wash and store cherries bound for export.  The facility also continues to provide more general warehouse services for local customers.  “We’ve also hosted the Clean Farms safe pesticide removal program, provide product information and crop input financing options.  We work to ensure our local growers have the tools and resources they need”.

As the Creston agricultural scene grows, so does Growers Supply.  Penn explains, “We are seeing an increase in acres being planted in cherries, apples, and mixed vegetables throughout the valley plus the emergence of the cannabis industry.”  With new crops come different demands.  Newly planted trees have different requirements than established trees.  Every year is different, too.  The weather plays a huge role in determining what, how much, and when, farmers require products.  “That means we have to communicate with the growers to keep on top of their needs, whatever they require,” concluded Penn.

Whether you have hundreds of fruit trees, acres of grains, sell your wares at the farmers’ market, prune trees or otherwise work in the industry, Creston Growers Supply provides all your growing needs.  If you need it to grow something, Growers Supply can provide it.   Stop by the warehouse at 754 – 35th Avenue South in Erickson and talk to the friendly staff.  For more information call 250 – 428 – 2125 or www.GrowersSupplyBC.com