After 17 years with BC Transit, including nine spent behind the wheel of a bus, Katatheon Farms grower Harry Kroeker decided it was time for a change.

“I enjoyed driving and spending the day with people,” Harry said.  “But I had also always loved working with plants and was drawn to the idea of working in a greenhouse.”

Harry gained experience in a handful of other Lower Mainland greenhouse operations before joining Katatheon Farms as a grower 11 years ago.  He now oversees the pepper and eggplant production on nine acres under glass in Langley, BC.  All of these items are sold in the Oppenheimer brand.

Katatheon is comprised of three houses: one dedicated to red bell peppers; another to orange bell peppers, with an area set aside for chile peppers, Li’l Hotties and baby eggplant; and a third where our mini peppers as well as a sprinkling of trial varieties thrive.

“We separate them because pepper varieties are unique and need different environments to grow at their best,” Harry said.  “Some like a slightly warmer temperature or more or less irrigation than others.  We try to create the most favorable climate possible for everything that we grow.”

While also admiring the rows of more traditional greenhouse vegetables, visitors to Katheon Farms will be delighted by the unique and the unexpected: lilac-colored bell peppers, elongated white peppers, and multi-hued eggplant, to name a few.  These are among the trials Harry runs on behalf of various seed companies to help determine viable new items, adjusting for taste and yield.

“It’s exciting to discover the new and different products we could introduce to our customers,” Harry said.  “But you do have to be practical and take the lead of the market.  Buyers want taste.  If an item doesn’t deliver flavor, it will be a no-go.”

Among Harry’s favorite tasks is hosting tours and sharing the greenhouse experience with retailers and other interested groups.

“It’s very useful to talk to customers face-to-face and learn their priorities, while also giving them an idea about what is involved in growing greenhouse products,” Harry said.

While making every effort to meet commercial retail standards, Harry admits that, “Mother Nature loves to throw curve balls.

“I know that retailers must have their requirements, just like we do,” he said.  “But things don’t grow faster or larger than the Good Lord allows them to grow. Vegetables don’t grow to the exact same size, every time. We harvest peppers and eggplant that are beautiful – but they are not saleable if they don’t hit the size standards.  They may come in various shapes and sizes, but they still taste great.  It can be really disappointing when good product can’t ship to the highest paying customer merely because it’s a little too big or too small.  We really are trying to get the best product out the door.”

Despite the occasional challenges, Harry finds his work to be very gratifying.  His current goal is to “… try to see if I can grow all year without chemicals or pesticides.  Our chemical cupboard is essentially empty,” he said.

Married with four grown children, Harry also enjoys traveling, camping, fishing, and doing volunteer work in the greater Langley community.