Strawberry Farm

Growing Strawberries In The 1920s and 1930s

Strawberry Farms in the 1920s

When early Japanese settlers in BC decided to start life in Surrey, the only land they could afford was the cheap and undeveloped land. They used dynamites and explosives to remove the enormous tree stumps scattered around the terrain1. These farms were discovered by Japanese settlers who discovered that growing strawberries and other crops would allow them to earn a lot of profit.

The old Safeway that was formerly located at current King George and 104 Ave used to be a strawberry farm owned by a Japanese Canadian family before World War II. The farm was owned by Tsunehachi Hoshiko and his family. Being in the peat moss industry before, Tsunehachi Hoshiko bought the land because it had a peat bog and used the land to start a poultry business. At that time, poultry farmers used peat moss.2 Tsunehachi Hoshiko’s son, Michael Hoshiko, is known for writing the book “Who Was Who” which contains stories of families in Surrey and Delta about their lives before and during World War I and World War II.

The Hoshikos’ Farm in the 1930s

Coming to Canada without any knowledge of the language or culture was a bit of a shock for Michael Hoshiko’s mother, Sae Hoshiko. She went to work as a domestic caretaker (?) with a family living in New Westminster. She did not like working there, so instead she went to work weeding at a Chinese farm. Eventually, the family had to move to Strawberry Hill where his father made a down payment on a farm.4

In the 1920s, Tsunehachi Hoshiko bought property in Strawberry Hill, where he and his family lived until about 1922 before moving to South Port Mann where he had purchased about fifteen acres of land on Pacific Highway, now called King George Highway. There, he grew strawberries and started a hatchery business around 1927.

Tsunehachi had to use a shovel to dig ditches for drainage of the strawberry fields. But, he cut cedar stumps instead of using pipes to make lumber. He lined the sides and top of the ditch with the lumber, and then covered the ditch with dirt so the surface could be planted with strawberries.5

Chicken farming was another source of income for many Japanese Canadians. Farmers in the poultry business used a skill from Japan called “chick sexing”. This skill allowed them to separate the male chicks from the female chicks. This skill allowed farmers to keep the pullets for producing eggs.6

Many Japanese Canadian families also had damp, darn shacks as well as other “corner” spaces where they kept tsukemono pickles, jams, preserves, miso, sake, tofu, and other fermented foods. A bucket with a lid, called the “taru” bucket, contained fermented garden vegetables such as daikon, carrots, and cucumbers, which was kept in their own warehouse, called a “kura”.7

During these times, all the men would be working in the farm while their wives would be helping them pick all the crops. The wives were also responsible for cooking meals and looking after the children. Children would also help out their families over their free time to help with their businesses.

While Tsunehachi Hoshiko was starting his strawberry and poultry farm, he used to ride his bicycle to work at Timberland Saw Mill. After he came home at night, he worked on building his house. He was just getting a grasp of his hatchery business and selling baby chicks when he passed away in 1932. He strongly supported the Buddhist Church in New Westminster and the South Port Mann Berry Growers’ Association.8

The Evacuation of Japanese Canadians in 1942

Pearl Harbour- December 7, 1941

During World War II, Pearl Harbour was bombed on December 7, 1941 by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, which officially made the United States enter World War II. This sparked more racial prejudice and discrimination against the Japanese on the west coast of Canada. Everyone who identified as Japanese (regardless of their citizenship) were ordered by the government to leave the area. Their lands were being taken away and sold for a lower price, and in 1942 they were exiled to remote areas in British Columbia and elsewhere, or were deported. This event is known as the internment of Japanese Canadians.10

The bombing of Pearl Harbour also triggered tensions between Canada and Japan. The white farmers, merchants, and political leaders took it as an opportunity to rid themselves from their long-despised competitors and accused the Japanese for being spies and saboteurs. However, since no evidence could be found regarding the matter, there were no mass arrests. The Chiefs and Canadian army told the people that the Japanese were of no threat. However, some politicians and lobbyists still protested for the removal or confinement of the Japanese Canadians.

January 14, 1942, Prime Minister Mackenzie King ordered for all Japanese men to be removed from coastal areas and sent to work in road labour camps. Since they were unable to leave because of the winter weather, even though this was meant to be a compromise, the government’s action implied that the Japanese Canadians were an actual threat. This increased the fear of the White people on the west coast, who pushed for the removal of the Japanese Canadians.

During the postwar years, Japanese Canadians and their allies began lobbying for compensation for their wartime treatment. According to the survey conducted for Toronto based Japanese Canadians, it was found that $1,400,395.66 worth of property was sold at $351,334.86. In the end, even though an investigation was conducted to inquire about the fraud and mishandling of the Custodian of the Enemy property, much of their losses were unable to be recovered.6

Citation: Board of Directors for Western Peat Co., Aug. 1942. Carncross Family Collection. Courtesy of Surrey Archives, SMA95.003.006.