Alberta's first certified organic orchard opened

摘要

The Alberta Organic Producers Association celebrated its 15th anniversary this past July during the grand opening of Orchard Palace, the first certified organic orchard in Alberta, located at the farm of Victor and Elizabeth Chrapko, near Two Hills, Alberta. It was a day filled with celebration: Alberta's centennial; one-third of a century for the Two Hills Agriculture Society; the opening of Orchard Palace; a visit by the board of OCIA International (a major certification body); a tribute to one ofAlberta's organic pioneers, Irene Mihailuk; and the second birthday of the youngest member of the Chrapko organic farm family. In many ways, Orchard Palace is a model operation, although its potential is currently untapped. The fruit trees are young, many just beginning production. Rainy weather at the opening kept the field tour short, but participants did get to see saskatoons, sea buckthorn, apples, cherries, honeysuckle and strawberries.