Commercial Fruit Growing in Canada, from European Contact to 1930: An Outline

Commercial Fruit Growing in Canada, from European Contact to 1930: An Outline describes the beginnings of commercial fruit growing in Canada, up until 1930 when it had matured into a strong industry. The book is a broad history, touching on various themes such as the continuing refinement of horticultural practices, the process from cultivation to storage and to transportation; the rise of standardization; and the influence of science and technology on horticulture. It is not a detailed history of horticultural techniques, such as orchard, market garden or greenhouse cultivation, nor an economic history of the Canadian fruit industry. I leave such histories to future horticultural historians. The advances in cultivation, marketing, storage, packaging and transportation are traced that enabled the rise of commercial fruit growing. As well, plant breeding (hardiness is a prime factor for Canadian plants) and plant registration (protecting the rights of plant breeders) are highlighted. The men and women, publishers, associations and government enablers are also focused on. In fact, the last chapter is devoted to short biographies of fruit growers, government officials, association members, nursery owners, seed sellers, plant breeders, etc. who were key participants in the growth of commercial fruit growing in Canada. The story stops at 1930. Why? By 1930, most of the supports, tools, markets and science were in place that would carry the Canadian fruit industry into modern times.