Harper's U鈥慞ick
Gerry Harper (Class of 鈥�57)
When Gerry Harper (鈥�57) talks about his small raspberry farm that has been in the family since 1915, a smile spreads across his face. The twinkle in his eyes in unmistakable. Gerry truly loves what he does.
Gerry is the owner and operator of Harper鈥檚 U-Pick, one of the largest raspberry farms in Southeastern New Brunswick. Located along the Petitcodiac River, Harper鈥檚 U-Pick proudly cultivates a variety of fruits for public picking. Although predominantly a raspberry U-pick, Harper鈥檚 offers gooseberries, elderberries, black currents, and more.
鈥淲e added a few rows of raspberries in the early 鈥�90鈥檚鈥� Gerry explains. 鈥淚 became more interested in raspberries and kept expanding. We added irrigation and then kept adding a few more rows. We got a bit carried away there!鈥�
While the farm has changed dramatically over the years, it has been operating on the same area of land since 1915 when the Harper family moved there. George Harper, Gerry鈥檚 grandfather, originally purchased part of the land where he operated a small farm market. He sold cucumbers, summer savory, and cabbage, which he processed to sauerkraut.
鈥淗e had a few cows on the farm as well,鈥� Gerry explains. 鈥淭he farm was something I got attached to. I spent all of my summers there with him. I have a lot of memories there.鈥�
Gerry took over the farm 18 years ago. Over the years, it has expanded and production has been steadily increasing. The greatest challenge, Gerry notes, was the high water levels on the property. The land sits on a number of natural springs which made farming the land difficulty. With careful planning and proper drainage installed, raspberries began to thrive.
鈥淪ome people told me I was crazy,鈥� Gerry laughs. 鈥淏ut after a couple of years they took off. We鈥檝e added some elderberries but they haven鈥檛 really taken off yet.鈥�
Although the farm today operates primarily as a U-pick, some berries are harvested and sold to wineries. Others are sold to vendors at the Farmer鈥檚 Market. The rest are left for picking. People from near and far enjoy the picking season at Harper's U-Pick.
鈥淲e鈥檙e located in a predominantly English speaking area,鈥� Gerry explains. 鈥溁粕辈� 60% of our pickers are Acadian people. It鈥檚 a big tradition with them for making desserts. We get a lot of Newfoundlanders as well, people who visit every year on holidays and staying with relatives. I meet quite a few interesting people!鈥�
While the hobby farm hosts a variety of berries, it鈥檚 the experience that they offer to pickers that Harper鈥檚 U-Pick prides itself on. With a small store on the property decorated with interesting antiques, shaded picnic tables, a grapevine-covered gazebo, and multiple beds of beautifully kept flowers, Harper鈥檚 U-Pick ensures that their property brings a smile to the faces of those who visit.
鈥淲hat gives me the most pride is having people come in and enjoy their experience,鈥� Gerry explains. 鈥淪eeing them come in smiling. My daughter works hard tending to the flower beds. We try to make the place look attractive and want to give customers a good experience.鈥�
Harper鈥檚 U-Pick is Gerry鈥檚 pride and joy, although it was not always his primary career. After earning a diploma in engineering at NSAC in 1957, Gerry worked for Farm Credit Canada for 30 years as the district manager for NB and NL. His farm was simply a pastime. Now well into his retirement, Gerry works on the farm full time, not to make a living but simply because he enjoys it.
鈥淪ome people have their cottages, some people have their boats or their yachts- this is my cottage, this is my yacht,鈥� Gerry smiles. 鈥淚 just really enjoy it. The pickers are sort of like a family, seeing them again every year.鈥�
It鈥檚 not just the pickers though who Gerry considers family. Gerry operates Harper鈥檚 U-Pick alongside his good friend Frank. Frank, also retired, has become a staple on the farm overseeing the store, the scales, and helping out where her can. During the summer in peak season, Gerry will hire one other employee to help out around the farm. During the off season, while there are no plants to tend to, Gerry admits there is still lots to do.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 work on the farm every day, we鈥檒l take a few weeks off here and there,鈥� Gerry explains. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always something to fix. We go down to the store and pick away at things. Frank always has the coffee going in the morning and two or three guys will come in and we鈥檒l sit and chat for a while over coffee. It鈥檚 like our own Tim Hortons鈥�, we鈥檝e got everything except the donuts!鈥�
Looking towards the future of the U-Pick, Gerry admits he isn鈥檛 sure what will happen. His kids are not directly involved with the small hobby farm and Gerry isn鈥檛 exactly sold on the idea of selling the farm.
鈥淭here鈥檚 general wear and tear on some things,鈥� Gerry says. 鈥淭he posts are getting old and will soon need to be replaced. I don鈥檛 really want to sell to anyone because they would be facing a pretty big job. I know it鈥檚 not good planning but we鈥檒l keep it up the way we are right now. I鈥檓 not sure, maybe we鈥檒l just wind it down someday.鈥�
For now though, pickers can look forward to visiting Harper鈥檚 U-Pick during the summer months. Plants have been ordered for next year and Gerry looks forward to seeing the returning pickers and hopefully some new faces. Along with his passion for his small family hobby farm, it鈥檚 all part of what makes Gerry鈥檚 job so enjoyable. 聽
For season open dates and recipes using Harper鈥檚 U-Pick products, visit harpersupick.com