The hop farms in the Fraser Valley were not only a place for income for many hard working families but it was also a place for constructive and positive cultural sharing in an often racist time.
The Fraser Valley had a rather ideal growing environment for hop farming which is why hop farms were such a success in the valley from 1893-1975. With the ideal growing conditions, many hop farms were established in the valley such as Hulbert Hop Gardens (1893-1944), BC Hop Company (1902-1954), Canadian Hop Company (1926-1957), and John I. Haas Hop Company (1925-1997). The John I. Haas Hop Company managed to purchase all of the above hop companies and became the only hop company in Chilliwack by the late 1950’s.
These hop companies provided many people with steady incomes, teamwork, and socialization. These hop workers worked long hours back to back so it’s no wonder why these jobs steadily became a place of home and family for most.
