After 50 years, this could be the final season for a popular Surrey farm.
Every year, the Heppell family grows roughly 50 million servings of potatoes and other crops on a 220-acre parcel near 192nd Street and 36th Avenue.
The land is owned by the federal government and is leased to the family on a year-to-year basis and is not part of the Agricultural Land Reserve.
“This piece of field is one of the most important parts to our food security here in the early parts of the season,” farmer Tyler Heppell told Global News, explaining that it gets the perfect amount of sun, soil and drainage.
“That combination makes it one of the best pieces of farmland in all of Western Canada,” he said.
Tyler Heppell’s grandfather first turned the former military site into productive farmland 50 years ago and since then, it’s been a major part of their potato business
Since 2022, they have been hosting Ugly Potato Day for anyone who wants to come down and receive a few potatoes and squash that they cannot sell to the stores.
But now, Heppell said, they fear their lease may be ended to free up the land for other purposes.
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“There’s been talk about making this into an inland container terminal, putting warehousing here,” Surrey city councillor, Mike Bose, said.
“I’ve heard of housing.”
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In addition, three First Nations have requested that a parcel of land within their traditional territory be returned to them.
The Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo (KKS) nations said the land, called k’ʷeq’ənəq (Kwek-en-nek) and known as Campbell Heights North in Surrey, should be returned to them to support their cultural and economic future.The Heppells have launched a petition to save the farm, which more than 86,000 people have signed.
The federal government told Global News it would respond to our request next week
Meanwhile, the Heppells are focused on getting the spring crop of Warba potatoes in the ground, which will yield millions of servings in the coming months.
“We’re able to plant the first potatoes of the year and harvest the first potatoes of the year, which shuts off our reliance on the United States,” Heppell said.
Anonymous – Go to a different website then goof. Nobody wants to hear you wine and cry because you’re not getting what you want
Funny how when Trump threatens our lands the government is in an uproar about protecting it. But when 4% of our population lays claim to all of Canada the goverment concedes. Now you know why your comments are censored as they dont fit the narrative.
Google PLR_7914-0337-00 city of surrey and you will see their family has been developing the land themselves just down the road the last couple of years. Grandpa Ron is Ronald Heppell funny how the world works
Please keep the field in potatoes forever as the population on the lower mainland continues to grow as food growing areas move further away,which means more gas to bring it to us!
Well it will benefit the Liberals in some way.. Their friends will have a plan and Carney will help make it happen. Happy day when B.C. can rid itself of NDP and Liberal/Cons.
The racist white nationalists can’t handle the truth. That’s why we have to continue to erase their fabricated history in Canada
Indigenous people have inhabited the land now known as Canada for at least 14,000 to over 25,000 years, establishing diverse cultures and communities long before European arrival. Archaeological evidence, including findings at Bluefish Caves in the Yukon, suggests human presence as far back as 25,000 to 40,000 years ago
It will make a great Canadian taxpayer built First Nations owned hotel casino.
HA! And what will they do with it? Let it rot like everything else they get? These people whop came from Asia are not the OWNERS of Canada. In fact much evidence exists that others from Europe hit Canada first. Like Vikings.
JV – like the guy below says, let’s just bring it to a vote and you’ll see what the people really want. So much of T&R has deliberately been concluded outside of the public eye, in NDAs and without for knowledge that the public has had enough.
Had the FNs not been greedy, money grubbing obstructionist with DRIPA it might have worked out. Sort of shame your lot turned out no better than your so called white racists. First Nations are apparently racist too if we use your comments as any guide.
“Ugly Potato Day ” ?
I am disgusted by this potatophobia.Potatoes are peoplekind too
Freeze their bank accounts .
First Nations are native to Asia,they didn’t just pop up out of the ground in Canada. They traveled here from another location in the past.
The reality is that no one,no person ,people or government owns any land on this planet.Earth doesn’t hand out titles.All Countries and Borders have been established only by war ,throughout time,and will only continue to exist by the security of military force.
Jan James – First Nations don’t have to do sh1t. Don’t you think you racist whites have done enough already? No of course not. You want full control… but guess what. People like you don’t get to make the decisions anymore. Too bad so sad
Removing an expansive, productive and economically viable food source such as the Heppells’ farm greatly diminishes self-sufficiency for Canadians. Mark Carney’s “elbows up” slogan is merely empty words and demonstrates disloyalty to the country. And if First Nations want it back they should have to present an equally important use for the land such as a self-sustaining food source for the province and country, not for their own use.
Removing an expansive, productive and economically viable food source such as the Heppells’ farm greatly diminishes self-sufficiency for Canadians. Mark Carney’s “elbows up” slogan is merely empty words and demonstrates disloyalty to the country. And if First Nations want it back they should have to present an equally important use for the land such as a self-sustaining food source for the province and country, not just for their own use.
First Nations people were here long before my racist whitey ancestors from Poland came to North America. That makes me an immigrant. Oh well 🤷🏻
Give the land back to the First Nations where it belongs
Another stupid situation by our weak government
Food security should be coming first- for everyone, FN has not used this land in 50 years, they and thier future generations will benefit from it as it is anyways. Leave the farmland as farmland.
Enough already, BC Govt. has already given the Natives land supposedly ‘owned’ by hard working taxpayers. Don’t give this away too. It’s been how many hundred years that the Natives are living on their share of the land, time to catch up like the rest of us.
Why is it that grocery stores never have Canadian grown potatoes. They all come from the US.
please keep it, it sure is needed, and for heavens sake do not give to FNs, they have had enough handouts
We need this farm, for food security. Natives dont need it and don’t need any more containers more in need of good security
Put it in the ALR and leave it there!!! We can’t keep losing valuable farmland. Think of your families future! Do NOT turn it over to the indigenous.
ALL canadians own all the lands that we live on, not the natives and not the government either AND being “squatters” on the land for over 50 years this land now belongs to the family that has been growing potato’s on it for over 50 years. My belief of course. WE need the land and the potatoes or we will find ourselves in a huge food shortage real soon. Can’t eat a warehouse or a house or a building – can we?
So why are the aboriginals saying it’s their land? This has to end. Keep the farm . Look what happened to Richmond., it has the best soil, but most of it was destroyed. But yet the government pushes being green, now that shows how they lie and have no clue about farming.
Keep productive Farm Land producing and this is one example of prime farm land that supplies a lot of food for consumption. It has been farmed for 50 years!!! Great soil and drainage….
PEI potatoes are better anyway
why doesn’t the government simply sell the land to Heppell’s ?
Great piece of land for Canada’s new trade partner, the CCP,to build a military base on.
I am pretty sure this is the farm that Justin Trudeau was born on.
Far left corner of the field.
86,429 Have already signed the petition against handing this over to anyone.
I’ve forward to about 100 people I know will sign it too.
Do it!
Trust me when I say if the FNs get they will do whatever they can to maximise profits out of it by developing high density housing.
Senkwacpacwacwac at the south end of the Burrard street bridge is an example.
It will the highest density development ever built in Canada.
No thought to schools, hospitals etc etc with regards to infrastructure burden.
I guess that’s Canadians problem eh?
Is there absolutely any surprise in this claim? It would go from a Canadian taxpayers assets to minority self interest ownership with now zero benefits for greater society.
Enough ok. It’s not Indian land. It’s Canadian land. We all own it!
The natives can go to h e double toothpicks.
They can purchase the land, the same as any other farmer, or developer. They do not own the land any more. Even if they think they do, I guess they have never heard of squatters rights. The land has been owned by Canada for at least 159 years.