Petals and Plates British Columbia – Quik’s Farm Ltd.
Petals and Plates is a series of flower-focused farm dinners that highlight Canadian flower growers and their importance in our agricultural landscape. By combining local food, beer and wine, local floral designers and chefs, these dinners are an exciting, must-attend celebration of the diverse bounty that our local communities have to offer. We hope you will join us!
Event: Petals and Plates British Columbia – Quik’s Farm Ltd.
Location: Quik’s Farm Ltd. : 11115 McSween Road, Chiliwack BC, V2P 6H5
Date: Saturday March 14, 2020
Time: 2:30Pm Arrival Time (Sharp) – 8:00 Completion Time (Estimated)
Weather: This is a rain or shine event. The event is held inside a greenhouse so we should be sheltered from the elements.
Dress Code: There is no strict dress code, but guests are invited to dress “casual dressy”. The temperature in most greenhouses ranges between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius, so dress accordingly. Depending on the time of the year, bringing a sweater or jacket may be a good idea as temperatures can drop after sunset.
Comfortable walking shoes are also recommended. Each dinner includes a walking tour of the greenhouse that involves about 10-20 minutes of slow paced walking. Very high heels are not advised!
Whats included: Pretty much everything! All the food (appetizers and 4 courses), the music, the tours, the flower crown bar, and some take home flowers are all included. The only thing that is not included is any alcohol, but there is alcohol available for purchase from a cash bar.
Quik’s Farm Ltd.
Quik’s Farm Ltd was started by Harry and Lydie Quik in the year 1990 when they immigrated to Canada. Initially starting in seasonal potato and cedar hedging growing, the company gradually introduced a consistent cut flower program to supplement these less labor intensive crops. Over the early years, focus was shifted more towards year round cut flower production and away from the potatoes and cedar hedging trees. Harry built the first glass greenhouse in 1995 for production of Oriental Lilies, Lisianthus, Spraymums and Disbud Mums. Seasonally he also grew Carnations, Statice, Snapdragon, and Sunflowers outdoors.
Harry and Lydie involved their children in the family business from an early age since they believed work ethic is built by gaining experience from the bottom up. In 2005 when Harry did his first significant expansion, Harry’s son Andries officially joined the company as Head Grower, having previously run the summer field program throughout his high school years. Andries’ main focus upon joining the company was to develop the Spraymum and Disbud Mum markets as he believed there was great potential in local, BC Grown novelty varieties of Chrysanthemums.
As the Spray and Disbud Chrysanthemum market grew in North America, Quik’s Farm entered a phase of acquisitions and expansions over the years. During these expansions, focus was placed on optimizing efficiency and production capacity by introducing modern technologies. This included the introduction of planting and harvesting equipment, modern climate control and fertilizer application systems, as well as an in-house cutting production and propagation facility. Due to the changes in market situation and an increased demand for selling product directly, Harry’s second son Leo took on the role of Sales and Logistics Manager. By implementing a sales and marketing plan with outreaches to very diverse range of customers, Quik’s Farm Ltd has focused on supplying the highest quality cut flowers to market. Currently Quik’s Farm is one of the largest supermarket floral supplier in Western Canada, with emphasis on putting the freshest flowers into the hands of consumers everyday.
Spearheading the operations in the mass market department since 2014 is Corne, another of Harry’s sons. At the peak of the season, Quik’s Farm employs up to 70 staff, produces flowers from close to 15 acres of state of the art glass greenhouse, grows seasonal crops on another 25 acres of fertile Fraser Valley soil, and has trucks departing daily to destinations all over Western Canada. At Quik’s Farm no order to big, no order to small. It’s Flowers with Impact.
