The
Northern Ontario Wild Blueberry Co-operative Inc. is a collective of
individuals and organizations of the Sudbury District who strongly
believe that there is a viable blueberry market in Northern Ontario. And
this summer they intend to prove that their theory is correct!
Mick
Low, shown in the photo, is one of the local leaders who is spearheading
the operation this summer. He and several other members of the Board of
Directors held a public meeting in June at the Valley East Town Hall to
explain their plans. Approximately 20 interested persons were in
attendance.
Ward
3 Councillor, Louise Portelance, who was the Chair of the Economic
Development Committee when the company was formed several years ago,
announced that, “Once again our main goal will be to provide the
highest possible price for the world’s best wild blueberries to the
people who do all the hard work - the pickers.” For the past two
years, the co-op has been studying ways to enter the local blueberry
market, including the preparation of a major feasibility study financed
by the former Sudbury Regional Development Corporation (SRDC).
Mick
Low explained, “We believe there is a profit to be made this summer
and that a very lucrative business can be established with the right
organization and proper marketing. We have buyers who will take all of
the blueberries we can give them. Now all we have to do is get them from
the bush to the market.”
The
co-op has an agreement with a local entrepreneur who will buy all the
berries the co-op can supply this summer. Plans to pay pickers as much
as $5 per quart are now in place.
Several
drop-off sites are now being arranged in the area so that pickers can
bring their blueberries and receive proper compensation for their work.
Anyone can sell blueberries to the co-op, however, members will be
eligible for bonuses or for the first chance at higher prices for
special orders. The drop sites will likely be along the four major
arteries in the City of Greater Sudbury.
The
Co-op sees late June and July as the window of opportunity for the
blueberry harvest in the Sudbury area. It is during this time that the
blueberries in Quebec are not yet ready for harvest. Therefore, if
pickers can concentrate their efforts during this period of time, they
will fetch the highest prices for their berries.
More
information on the Blueberry Co-operative can be obtained by contacting
Mick at 969-7213, Andy at 969-3691 or Louise at 897-4938.