Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/275392
Q: What was your path to farming? I was not thinking about farming at all when I was in high school or college. After college I originally was planning to go on a six-month mission working with troubled kids—that ended up being seven years of work traveling the world. Then, I married my wife, who grew up on a farm, and I thought it was time for me to pursue something new. Q: What's your take on being a grower? I unfortunately stereotyped farmers when I was in high school. And so my wife and I were like, "We're not the typical farmers, and that's okay." Farming is cool. A farmer doesn't have to look a certain way or have certain experience. I'm seven years into it. There are people [in the industry] that are willing to teach, and I want to pass that on. Whether that's to my children, to the schools, or even strangers. Why not? I'm proud of it. I love it and want to share it. Q: What challenges do ]SYJEGIMRXLIRI\X½ZI years? Being involved with other younger grow- ers and learning from my father-in-law. Just trying to build connections within the industry. The next fi ve years will be mostly about the transition plan. It's a really big task ahead for our family. Nova Scotia is small on the world scale, but we are proud of what we produce. We're proud of our Honeycrisp apple, and we know we can grow it well. And that's how we can contribute to the overall apple-growing scene. Ryan Swanson LAST BITE Young Growers will be featured here throughout 2014. Learn more at: goodfruit.com/yg. 46 MARCH 15, 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com KVS[IV'IRXVIZMPPI2SZE7GSXME'EREHE " " " PLAY goodfruit.com/yg scan to watch XLIMRXIVZMI[ age / 37 crops / More than 130 acres of apples business / Eisses Farms, Ltd. education / Mount Royal University, Calgary other experience / Learning from father and brother-in-law about the farm, religious studies, and global traveler title / Farm Manager photo & video by TJ Mullinax