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Vegetable growers Sask Outstanding Young Farmers for 2016

June 23, 2016, Regina, SK – Vegetable farmers Dan and Chelsea Erlandson of Outlook, Sask., were named the 2016 Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for the Saskatchewan Region at the annual awards event held in conjunction with Canada’s Farm Progress Show on June 17.

Dan and Chelsea are third-generation majority owners of Spring Creek Garden Ltd., growing more than 50 varieties of vegetables and attending eight farmers’ markets weekly in Regina and Saskatoon. They also grow, pack and market 150 acres of vegetables for the wholesale market.

“[The Saskatchewan OYF region] had two outstanding nominations this year,” said Carla Kaeding, program manager for Canada’s OYF. “The judges had a difficult decision but Dan and Chelsea are an exceptional choice for Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers and will represent Saskatchewan well at the national event this December.”

Dan took over the farm at the age of 16 and married Chelsea in 2010. She became an integral member of the operation. Today, they live on the farm with their two children. In 2015, Dan’s brother Travis and his wife, Jackie, joined the company as shareholder partners.

The farmers’ markets are where Dan originally began the business, starting with a few markets a week and quickly adding as many as he could to maximize profits in the short season. They can be found at farmers’ markets six days a week in Saskatoon and two days a week in Regina. Chelsea helped the farm expand to the Regina markets in 2010. Dan and Chelsea both understand and realize that the market season, mid-June until mid-October, is short in length, but the possibilities are endless.

The main vegetable crops grown are romaine, celery, broccoli, leaf lettuce, Brussels sprouts and sweet corn. These vegetables are sold through Federated CO-OP in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Spring Creek markets to CO-OP through The Prairie Fresh Food Corporation (PFFC). PFFC is made up of 17 Saskatchewan vegetable growers working together to provide a wide array of products.

In 2014, Chelsea was elected secretary/treasurer of the Saskatchewan Vegetables Growers’ Association. Both Chelsea and Dan are passionate about providing a wide variety and consistent supply of fresh vegetables to local markets.

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2016 will be chosen at the National Event in Niagara Falls, Ontario from November 29 – December 4, 2016.