From Our Newsletter : Meet the Harkers: Harkers Fruit Ranch in Cawston

Chances are you’ve been enjoying delicious our delicious organic apples from Bruce and Kathy Harker.

The Harkers and a handful of neighbouring organic farms were some of the first in the area Similkameen Valley to turn to organics. And the Similkameen Valley is now the Organic Capital of Canada with about 80 certified organic orchardists, ground-croppers and vineyards.

The Similkameen Valley parallels the US border, a few miles to the south, in the heart of the high mountains of the Cascades. Higher than most other growing areas in Cascadia, the area is a true desert, with over 20 types of cactus, and one of the lowest precipitation values in Canada at between 5 and 8 inches a year. It is farmable solely because of abundant groundwater. In fact the majority of farmers operate in a growing area just a mile or two wide and less than 20 miles long.

Bruce and Kathy Harker are conservation partners with The Land Conservancy. They are involved in restoring native vegetation and protecting their part of this incredible valley. Their farm and their legacy is a testimonial to the benefits and success of sustainable agriculture, and the power of community.

High school sweethearts at 16, and married at 22, Bruce and Kathy studied and worked in Vancouver, until they moved to Cawston to work the land that Bruce's father and grandfather had worked.

Fourth generation Harker's are now busy harvesting heirloom tomatoes, hot peppers, specialty squash and bins and bins of apples and pears. The Harker's coordinate the packing and handling of tree fruit for up to a dozen other area farmers.