(Abbotsford, BC March 15, 2022)– Fruit Producer, Gurpreet Lidder, of Lidder’s Produce Ltd located in Keremeos was named BC’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022. The winner was announced at the BC regional event presented by regional sponsor RBC Agriculture in Abbotsford on March 8-9.

Gurpreet Lidder, in partnership with his parents, operates an eighty-acre fruit farm. Growing up on the fruit farm, Gurpreet completed his business degree and returned to the thirty-five acre farm in 2003. His initial goal was to produce high quality fruit for the roadside market while making money.  He continues to produce high quality fruit while improving efficiency through infrastructure so he can supply his wholesale market.

Lidder’s Produce Ltd. wants to control the fruit production process from growing to shipping. Using three types of tests- soil, leaf and fruit, Gurpreet continues to improve the quality of the farm’s fruit. Safety, communication and customer trust is the key to Gurpreet’s business success. The constant weather changes in the BC region over the last few years have created many new challenges for this fruit producer

The BC/Yukon Region of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program were pleased to have national chair, Steve Cooper in attendance to honour two outstanding farm operations at their 2022 Regional Event. The farmers recognized were:

  • Gurpreet Lidder, fruit producer from Keremeos
  • Ross & Erin Springford, mixed cattle & poultry from Nanoose Bay

National Chair, Steve Cooper, had this comment about the BC regional event, “There were lots of smiles in the room as many were meeting up, networking and conversing in person for the first time in a very long time. The BC finalists did not disappoint as they demonstrated incredible passion, dogged determination and top business savvy”.

Celebrating 42 years, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, CN, John Deere, Bayer, Sollio Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and supported nationally by BDO.

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022 will be chosen at the National Event held in Saskatoon, SK  Nov 23-27, 2022.

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For more information or a photo of Gurpreet Lidder, contact:

Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com  · www.oyfcanada.com