Agriculture
Agriculture
The Fraser Valley is a hotbed of activity when it comes to berry production, processing, and research.
Whether you are planning to enter the berry industry or seeking to improve your existing farm operation, UFV's 18-credit Berry Production Essentials certificate can provide you with the up-to-date knowledge you need to ensure sustainable growth and maximum yields year after year in your berry field.
Learn from experienced faculty who are involved in berry research and can provide you with the latest recommendations on berry varieties, pest management, and soil preparation.
The program provides the perfect blend of theory and hands-on training in UFV's well-equipped 225 m2 polyethyline greenhouse.
The Berry Production Essentials certificate can easily ladder into a Horticulture Crop Production and Protection certificate, an Agriculture Technology diploma, or a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at UFV, if you wish to grow your expertise and career opportunities in the horticulture industry.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Land Use Inventory (ALUI), Abbotsford has 4,506 hectares in berry crops, which is 28% of all cultivated crops. Blueberries and raspberries are the top crops and make up 91% of all berries produced in Abbotsford. There are 898 individual berry fields with an average crop area of 5 hectares and a median of 4 hectares.
Berries are produced for local consumption, export, and processing markets, providing a valuable contribution to the B.C. economy. In fact, B.C. is Canada’s largest berry industry accounting for nearly 138,000 tonnes of berries produced and $224 million in farm cash receipts annually.
Graduates of the program are ready to take advantage of work opportunities on local berry farms and other berry industry businesses.