• From Early Records to an Industry
• An Act to Encourage the Cultivation of Blueberries
• Incorporation of a Blueberry Association

Long cherished by the Indians, blueberries were probably the first familiar foodstuff found by many colonists, since these berries were almost identical to the hurtleberries which grew in large quantities over England and Scotland. The natural sweetness of the wild berries must have made them the most welcome of the native fruits since sugar was scarce and very expensive in the early years of North America.

In a letter dated 1803, Luke Harrison of Maccan in Cumberland County described the new lands in which they had settled. Included in this description was an observation regarding the many wild fruits which 'grow in the woods, such as cherries and blueberries'. [8] Today the blueberries on the Harrison land are harvested and commercially sold as part of an industry which, since the 1880's, has grown into an important source of income for many Nova Scotians.

Blueberries were known and gathered in every county of Nova Scotia, often giving high yields on the poorest of soils. Land producing only blueberries, however, was deemed of little value. It was not until the latter part of the 19th century that blueberry barrens began to be looked upon in a new light.

Early record of the harvesting and commercial localized sale of blueberries comes from the shores of Volger's Cove, Lunenburg County, from the 1880's onward. The pickers were paid two to five cents per quart. The berries were taken by tugboat to Liverpool and sold from wooden barrels by the scoopful in the local shops.

During the same period a similar procedure was being used in Yarmouth. A small trade had been built up whereby the berry pickers would peddle their blueberries in eight to twelve quart picking baskets from door to door. The berry's appearance, flavour and wide range of habitat all contributed to a well-merited popularity.

Prior to the growth of a localized trade of blueberries in southern Nova Scotia, the state of Maine had begun to discover the possible commercial viability of large scale blueberry harvesting. It started in Washington County, during the Civil War in 1866, when Maine blueberries were harvested and canned to help meet the food needs of the Union Army. By 1875 the blueberry fruit crop had become an integral part of the Washington County economy.

By 1883, the blueberry crop in Yarmouth County was starting to gain importance, as shippers, merchants, and pickers began to realize its value. The industry was quickly expanding and developing in New Brunswick, and the ships from St. John were adding to their blueberry cargos when they stopped at Yarmouth.[9] Prices were good, the Boston merchants were eager and the new steamships brought the speedy transport of the fresh product to market. As early as 1883 there were signs of organization as men such as Henry Crowell were hiring pickers to harvest the berries to be sold commercially. [10] In that year shipments of blueberries from Yarmouth to Boston brought in good returns to the Yarmouth merchants.

In 1883 the editor of The Yarmouth Times wrote the following words:

"During the debates of the House of Assembly a quarter of a century ago, on a bill for the building of a rail from Halifax to Windsor, the Hon. Joseph Howe was sarcastically congratulated on the prospect of the proposed railway's usefulness in moving the 'blueberry crop'. But it appears that the blueberries are not to be sneered at. At all events the Nova Scotia Steamship Company have no reason to despise this homely but very useful and delicious fruit. Local householders remembering that blueberries have been 'high' this year don't see any great fun in the matter. $5077 paid out on the spot has done a power of good among the Acadian population of the Forks and other localities adjacent to the barrens."

The blueberry industry prospered, not only in Yarmouth, but in New Brunswick and Maine, as well as other parts of Nova Scotia itself. The Boston market seemed to be unlimited. By the early 1900's the blueberry industry formed an important portion of Yarmouth County exports.

In Ottawa in 1906 a member of Parliament, Mr. Piché of Montreal, proposed that an amendment be made to the Fruit Marks Art to include wild fruits, an indication of their growing importance throughout the country. The Hon. W. S. Fielding of Nova Scotia took part in the subsequent debates on the matter and expressed this opinion:

"I would like to take occasion to point out that in some parts of the lower provinces, including my own province of Nova Scotia, the wild berry industry is,quite an important one. The collection of blueberries along some parts of the coast of Nova Scotia for export to the United States is a considerable business. There has hitherto been no restriction on the trade. As far as I can learn there has been no grievance, nobody is calling for a remedy. I should view with regret any attempt to place restrictions upon the manner in which this wild berry trade may be carried on." [11]

By the time of the First World War the blueberry industry had begun to develop in some of the province's northern counties, specifically Cumberland. New methods of packing, processing, harvesting and cultivating had spurred the industry on. Burning was becoming more popular as a means of pruning and pest control, canning had grown somewhat in importance, and the market had expanded to include both New York and Central Canada.

By 1917 the Nova Scotia government had taken an interest in the industry. That year a revision was made to the Agriculture and Marketing Act which dealt primarily with the harvesting of the blueberry. (See Chapter 4)

In the 1920's it was evident that a shift was beginning to take place in the industry. Although Yarmouth continued to lead in berry exports, Cumberland County was gaining. In 1922 the Amherst News and Sentinel reported that blueberries were 'big business all over the county'. Dealers in Amherst were reaping good profits and a great many pickers had discovered its potential as an income supplement.

Lowbush blueberries, nature's gift, grow abundantly in Cumberland County. Because of their abundance almost anyone who wanted blueberries as a dessert could go almost anywhere in the county and pick their requirements.

During the 1909-1912 period, blueberries were often harvested from the side of the road and were later sold door to door in the town of Amherst for 5 cents per quart. [13] Blueberries would be gathered in maple sap buckets from West Brook during 1914-1915 and they would be sold in Springhill for 2 to 3 cents per quart. [14]

After World War I two major blueberry areas developed in Cumberland County ­ West Brook and Truemanville.

In 1919, Mr. Smith Pettigrew, West Brook, started to organize blueberry picking in this area. His interest stemmed in part from the interest and foresight of two medical doctors, Dr. Jeffers, Parrsboro, and Dr. Copps, Sackville, New Brunswick. These doctors became interested in the potential of the lowbush blueberry industry. They noted there seemed to be an endless supply of lowbush blueberries in the Parrsboro area; however, there wasn't any local market. Farm income was low and these men saw a potential in this crop if it could be harvested properly and marketed outside the Parrsboro area.[15]

In 1926, another West Brook family, the Dickinson Brothers, Karl and Seymour, became interested in blueberries. Their sister was the first member of this family to show an interest. She picked some blueberries and sold them to Hedley Pettigrew.

In 1927 Dickinson Brothers started their first venture to sell their own blueberries, a business they have continued.

Mr. W. B. (Billie) Wells, as a young boy (1909-1912) living on a farm in Truemanville, can remember picking blueberries along the side of the road near his home. His father, who operated a meat cart in Amherst three days per week, would take the blueberries and sell them house to house for 5 cents per quart.

Mr. Wells, when only 9 to 12 years of age, each summer would visit his Uncle Harvey Wells, who lived in Penobsquis, New Brunswick. His uncle operated a large blueberry business, often employing 400 to 500 Indians to hand pick the berries. This gave the young Truemanville boy his first insight into blueberry production ­ a business he was later to develop to be Nova Scotia's largest producer.

His first blueberry business started in July 1922 when he picked two fields in Truemanville. These fields yielded 1,000 32-quart crates. He paid three cents per quart to the pickers.

Mr. Wells in the early 1940's started to branch out his operations into areas 20 or 30 miles away in Cumberland County (1946) as well as in New Brunswick (1943).

During the early 40's he had received many glowing reports about the excellent blueberry fields in the Westchester area. After several years of hearing these stories, in 1946 he paid his first visit to the area.

The first field he visited was owned by Mr. and Mrs. James Fraser, Westchester. The Frasers had taken great pride in their field and in the quality of their hand-picked berries. In 1945 they sold their berries to Davidson and Ivan, Oxford, for a reported 60 cents per crate. The yield had been excellent, in fact, not all the berries could be harvested by hand so Mr. Fraser reluctantly allowed some rakes to be used. It is reported several sections would average over 2¼ tons per acre.

In 1946 the Frasers rented their field to W. B. Wells who paid them $2.00 per crate stumpage. Mr. Wells rented this field for several years and eventually bought it. Berries averaged 40 to 55 cents per quart ­ the highest price that has ever been paid for blueberries.

In 1946 Mr. Wells learned from Mr. Layton Stonehouse, a young man living in Millvale, about the tremendous blueberry area in Farmington. There were two houses in the area ­ Mr. Steve Heisler lived in one with his mother while his brother and his wife lived in another. The Heislers owned one of the largest fields. It hadn't been burned for many, many years There was good plant coverage but very little fruit ­ about 30-35 crates. The Heislers had only sold $45 worth off the fields in 27 years. Mr. Wells was able to buy the field ­ the following year it was burnt. A tremendous crop was harvested in 1948 and in 1949. [16]

In the late 20's, Mr. Drew Kelly, River Hebert, started to buy and ship blueberries from his area. He was the most progressive buyer in this area.

Blueberry development was also occurring in the Annapolis Valley. Amos S. Burns, a businessman in Kingston, N.S., is said to be the first to ship in the late 19th century Annapolis Valley blueberries to markets outside of Nova Scotia. He raised his blueberries on his farm at Tremont, Kings County. [17]

In 1930 a Truro businessman, Bill Flemming, shipped by rail 1000 ­ 32 quart crates from Truro. The berries had been harvested in the Gore area, Hants County. In 1925 the Yarmouth Herald reported that there was a drop in berry sales, wondering why this was so. This was only temporary. By the end of the decade exports reached a record high in the entire province.

In the 1920's the berry industry expanded as Colchester, Guysborough, Shelburne and Pictou counties became prominent; and Digby and even Richmond played a role. During this time methods of burning became more widely practiced and began to create serious problems for the Department of Lands and Forests, as many acres of woodland were lost to indiscriminant fires started by berry cultivators.

An Act to Encourage the Cultivation of Blueberries
In 1928 the Nova Scotia government decided to deal with the problems of burning and the general lack of organization by passing the Blueberry Associations Act. This act was designed to provide a framework by which blueberry burning, picking and marketing could be more effectively carried out. The Act read as follows:

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as "The Blueberry Associations Act, 1928".



2. When not less than ten persons of the age of eighteen years and upwards resident in any place or settlement in Nova Scotia and actually engaged in the occupation of berry picking, signify their intention of forming an Association by signing a declaration in the form in the Schedule to this Act, a certificate of incorporation may be issued by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to such persons, as may become members of such Association shall thereupon become a body corporate under the name of "Station No. Blueberry Association of Nova Scotia". Said declaration with an affidavit verifying the signatures thereto, and the fact that the persons signing the same are actually engaged in the occupation of berry picking, shall, before such certificate is issued, be filed with said Registrar.
3. The Minister of Lands and Forests may, in his discretion, upon the application of a Blueberry Association formed under the provisions of this Act, set aside an area or areas of Crown Lands as blueberry commons. Such area or areas shall first be surveyed and properly marked by posts and stones by the Department of Lands and Forests.
4. The objects of such Association shall be:
   • the obtaining of an area of Crown Land for the cultivation, picking, and co-operative shipping and selling of blueberries therefrom;
   • the procuring of reliable information as to the latest improvements in the methods of cultivating, picking, shipping and selling of blueberries, and the acquiring and collecting knowledge regarding markets for the sale of blueberries; and
   • the doing of all such matters and things as may legally tend to or assist in the attainment of the objects of such Association.
5. Every Association incorporated under the provisions of this Act shall hold its first meeting within two months of the date of its certificate of incorporation.
6. Each Association shall at its first meeting elect from its members a chairman and a secretary-treasurer, both of whom shall together with three members of the station administer the affairs of the station.
7. Immediately after the meeting of an Association the chairman shall notify in writing the Minister of Lands and Forests of the formation of such Association, and the names of the chairman and secretary-treasurer thereof.
8. The members of each Association shall meet at least once a year at the call of the chairman for the passing of accounts and for the conduct of general business pertaining to its objects.
9. Each Association shall have power to make rules and regulations regarding the conduct of its meetings, the annual fee to be paid by its members, and such other matters pertaining to its conduct and objects as are not consistent with the provisions of the Act, and as may be approved by the Minister of Lands and Forests. A copy of such rules and regulations shall be forwarded to the Chief Forester appointed under the provisions of the Lands and Forests Act, and shall be of force and effect until disapproved by the Governor-in-Council.
10. Any person contravening or committing any breach of, or committing any offence against any of the provisions of this section, shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
11. In every case where no penalty has been provided for any offence against this Part, the penalty shall not be less than five nor more than twenty dollars.
12. Any penalty provided for by this Act may be recovered under the provisions of "The Summary Convictions Act".
13. Any penalty under the provisions of this Part, when recovered, shall be paid one-half to the complainant, informant or prosecutor, and the other half to the Provincial Treasurer, to be applied in the protection and the suppression of fires under the provisions of the Lands and Forests Act.
14. Nothing in this chapter contained shall be held to limit or interfere with the right of any person to bring and maintain civil action for damages occasioned by fire.
15. An annual return shall be furnished by the Secretary-Treasurer of each Association to the Minister of Lands and Forests on or before the 31st day of December, showing:
    • the number of members of the station;
    • the annual fee to be paid by members;
    • the number of meetings held;
    • the names and addresses of the officers;
    • the receipts and expenditures of the station during the year; and
    • the property held by the station and its value.

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