LAURENTIAN VALLEY — If a person made a turn off Greenwood road near Whitewater Road, whether by intention or a whim, they would come to Hugli’s Blueberry Ranch. It is not in Whitewater Township but so close by and has many connections with it.
The Blueberry Ranch, Judy and Brian Hugli’s family-owned business, originated by Bill Hugli, Brian’s father, 40 years ago, is the largest in Eastern Ontario. Also, it is the furthest one north to grow blueberries on this scale. One highpoint of the summer is to buy the berries or pick-them-yourself. More people pick! Whether by design or good fortune, the bushes are located on the top of a small rise with a valley and a pond to one side, the pond water being the recipe for irrigation. This configuration resulted in a weird micro-climate with a temperature a few degrees higher than norm for the berry patch, improving sustainability.
Mr. Hugli said, “The window in the spring is so short compared to Southern Ontario that we really have to push it then.”
Over time there is progress on a better and consistent crop.
“Our accountant has never seen another business with such a variance of highs and lows of productivity,” Mr. Hugli said.
There was a drought about a dozen years ago that affected the growth of all produce. This year, despite the hot dry summer, the improved irrigation recently of the patch is plenty of berries. However, the water pond which drops three feet in a typical season had dropped over seven feet by the third week of July. A thousand loads of gravel had to be dredged to obtain necessary water during this arid period.
Mr. Hugli feels the negativity in the media with regards to withering farm crops in the area due to the weather, not his blueberry crop though, squeezed his customer-base a bit.
The everyday workload is split down the middle between the couple. Mrs. Hugli looks after administration such as marketing, finances and human resources, etc while Mr. Hugli is responsible for the care and maintenance of the whole property.
Mrs. Hugli said, “If we were ever to step on each other’s toes, you would hear the shouting in Westmeath!”
The field itself is 17 acres and over 100 rows. There are 17 segregated varieties of the berries mostly planted in the early years to ascertain which brands might survive and since then, upheld for the different flavours in taste and size of the berries themselves.
Recently some of the closes rows were widened to accommodate wheelchair bound people who wanted to pic. The height of the bushes being most suitable for that method.
In fact, Nellie Bromley in her wheelchair, accommodated by her daughter Susan, was weighing in four baskets. She said she has been picking berries in this general area for 80 years.
“I remember when Bill Hugli first planted his blueberries.”
Mrs. Hugli said that Mrs. Bromley was a frequent customer.
“She sometimes comes in the morning, leaves for lunch and comes back in the afternoon,” she said.
Mr. Hugli couldn’t help but remark on her stamina and good humour when she was there.
About 25 students are hired for the season with the duties of pruning and maintaining the bushes, transporting pickers to and from the designated spots on a tractor and wagon, handling customers at the weigh-in and bake counters. Wherever assigned, they use the customer skills learned through in-house classes and from Mr. Hugli as well. Four students; Sherry Ethier, Travis Sheedy, Mike Plazek and Belinda Seliner are from Whitewater Township. Students tend to return each year, some right through high school and into college.
Corrie Bourgoin from Foresters Falls dropped in on her way home from work to buy some blueberries.
“I bought this time but usually enjoy picking my own.”
A new employee, Laura Gordon who served her revealed, “I like working here so much, I plan on making it a long-career one.”
Blueberry picking is a family oriented activity. Often, youngsters are there with their parents too, learning the skills. Whether a parent or parents spend more time paying attention to the kids rather than the blueberries is up for grabs.
Proponents of healthy diets write that eating blueberries is a natural antioxidant that fights against aging and cancer. Eat as many as you would like!
