Agriculture Minister Don McRae presented Creston's Truscott family with a Century Farm Award to honour the 100th anniversary of Truscott Farms and the family's contribution as pioneers in agriculture innovation, irrigation, and crop adaptation.

McRae commended the Truscotts for their century of hard work and the contributions the family has made to British Columbia's agriculture community.

The Truscott family sailed to Canada in 1908 and, two years later, settled in the lush Creston Valley. In 1912, George Truscott established the first commercial apple orchard in Creston. The Truscott's were involved in establishing an irrigation district in the 1920s, the forerunner of today's Arrow Creek water system. In 1956, George's son Lew and wife Iva diversified the orchard offerings to include a fruit stand and over 500 bee hives.

In 1980, their entire apple crop was wiped out by a hail storm but the family persevered. In the mid-nineties, they switched crops from all apples to cherries and developed two unique cherry varieties. In 2008, the farm began to transition to mixed farming.

The family operation is now run by William (Bill) and Barbara Truscott who produce 20 to 30 different crops which they sell at their fruit stand. Bill's sister Susan, along with husband Gary Snow and their son Micah, run nearby L.W. Truscott Farms which is home to Tabletree cherry juice, a value-added agrifoods product.

Century Farm Awards honour agricultural organizations that have been active for a century or longer as well as pioneers whose farms and ranches have been in families for 100 years or more. Each Century Farm Award celebrates the rich heritage of farming and ranching families and organizations in B.C.

Quotes:

Minister of Agriculture Don McRae -

"It is innovative families like the Truscotts who maintain B.C.'s legacy as a trusted source for fresh, healthy agrifoods products for families around the world."

The Truscott Family -

"One can only imagine the struggles, the trials and the tribulations that our family has seen over the last 100 years of farming in B.C. and, like the trees that we farm, it takes all the branches of the family to be successful. A family that pulls together, that is strong, and that is willing to bend and change with the challenges of farming and one that celebrates their accomplishments as we are today."

Quick Facts:

• To date, 97 family farms or organizations have received the Century Farm Award.
• The Century Farm Award program was created in 1994 to mark the centennial of the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Nine out of 10 B.C. farms are family owned and operated.

Learn More:

For more information about B.C.'s Century Farm program: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/regional/CenturyFarmAwards/CenturyFarms.htm

To find out more about the history of Truscott Farms: http://www.tabletreejuice.com/OurFarm.html

Contact:

Kathryn Hardy
Communications
Ministry of Agriculture
250 387-1693