RON VAN MARREWYK: The next generation steps into the crop

As a fourth-generation greenhouse farmer, Ron Van Marrewyk takes pride in what he does.

The 25-year-old Delta resident has followed his family’s long lineage of greenhouse vegetable farming. He works at Westcoast Vegetables an 18-acre cucumber greenhouse in Delta.

“I think it’s special. It’s not something that many people have,” Van Marrewyk said. “Not many people can say they been born and raised in an industry and will stay with that industry their whole life.”

Van Marrewyk began in the greenhouse at age 12, working half days picking, twirling and pruning plants at his family’s greenhouse in Pitt Meadows. The family has 10 years of experience growing cucumbers and tomatoes and 17 years of experience growing peppers.

At age 16, he began to see a future for himself inside the glass.

“I was starting to get a little more experience. I’m really good with my hands and knew you needed to have the mind for it, too. It does take a lot to be a successful grower,” he said.

Wanting to get the best education, he attended Kwantlen University College’s horticulture technician program and then transferred to the University of Guelph in Ontario, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Science with a major in horticulture.

He returned to British Columbia and began working under growers that have worked at the family’s greenhouse for years.

Van Marrewyk recently became manager of the packing line, a new addition to the greenhouse, which allows the farm to pick the vegetables and pack on site in the same day.

He’s become involved in the sector by sitting on councils that look at such items as management training for supervisors to supporting research projects that look at sustainable ways to fight bad pests in the greenhouse.

“I love the versatility,” he says of his job. “There are so many aspects to it.”

His father, Albert Van Marrewyk, who runs a 12-acre pepper greenhouse with his wife, Jane, in Pitt Meadows, says he’s proud to have sparked his son’s interest in greenhouse growing.

“I’m proud that I could make him interested. He’s a great guy. He’s had the right education. I should give him the opportunity to take over,” the senior Van Marrewyk said. “I grew up on the farm. I knew in kindergarten that’s what I wanted to do. You start from seeds and see nothing there, and then it matures and you get your plants, and then bring food to the auction. I thought it was just awesome.”

Van Marrewyk said he’s never pressured his children to take up farming. He always encouraged them follow their passions. It’s great, he said, that his son’s passion is also his own.

“It’s essential that farming continues,” the senior Van Marrewyk said. “People have to eat and it takes society to protect it. There are a few farmers who feed the rest of people.”

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