By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

The historic Sunny Brae Farm had one of its best growing seasons to date, but the local farm faced challenges with help during the harvest.

Sunny Brae Farm was founded in 1888 by Scotsman John Manson, one of the first Europeans to settle on Cortes Island. The farm has remained in the Manson family through the generations and is now owned and operated by John Manson’s grandson, Mike Manson.

Mike Manson also describes his family and Cortes Island history in: The Manson Family: One of Cortes Island’s First Settler Families and How People’s Attitudes Towards Nature Changed

The farm achieved heritage status from the BC government in 2013 and is now known primarily for its blueberry production. Mike says 2022 saw one of the strongest growing seasons ever for the farm, with more than a million blueberries picked.

But like many other sectors of the economy, Mike says his farm didn’t find it easy to find enough help for the blueberry harvest. He adds that, in the past, they could count on adolescents getting in touch for summer picking jobs, but that hasn’t been happening in the past couple of years. He believes other businesses are attracting young workers with higher paying jobs.

Mike says this year they managed to find enough help through visiting friends and family as well as from an unexpected demographic: seniors.

Top image credit: Mike Manson and his faithful dog Clem sit on the deck of their home at Sunny Brae Farm. Photo by Greg Osoba.