vol. 10, no.5, october 1981 - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Art Br ett at Pteaaantvie w.
"It got to be such a lot of work
that I could only keep a few
acres planted her e at
Pteasantvtew, because I hadn't
tlrue to tend them," he sa ys .
"Ever since I sold the
Woodale fa rm in ]979. I consider
myself as semi-retired,"
chuckles Art. "I have 28 acres
here at Pleasantview with four
acres each of turnip, cabbage
and potatoes planted, and
another two acres in beet and
carrot. That's really not ver y
much in. but it's enough for me
to manage these days."
. Art does admit that it's still a
long way from the horse and
plough operation that he started
with years ago but it's nowhere
near his best years when he
produced as high as 126 tons of
cabbage alone .
"I think I got about 40 tons of
cabbage last year," he says.
explaining that it has taken the
last few years to get his farm at
Pleasantview back in shape.
"When I ga ve up Woodale I
really had to start all over
again, and where this operation
is so small I really have too
much equipment now, but it
comes in handy sometimes."
He will market all ot his
veg etables directly through the
ce ntr al Newfoundland
Vegetable Marketing Associates
Limited (VMAL) this year.
VMAL was started in 1978 to
provide a farmer-owned-andoperated
marketing association
to grade and package
vegetables for the Newfoundland
market. As shareholding
members of VMAL, participating
farmers are notified
by the farm packaging plant to
bring their produce to the
grading station where it is then
distributed to the wholesale
markets in the province.
"VMAL is a good idea if you
are operating on a big scale."
admits Art who is quick to point
out that a marketing
association. however. is closer
to the tip of the iceberg when it
comes to solving problems
encountered by local farmers.
.. A free market like the one we
have in Newfoundland always
Row upon row of Brett cabbages.
OECKS AWASH-27
has the problem of a market glut
caused by the importation of
mainland vegetables when the
local products are ready for
market. It's really one thing or
another; when the market is
good the crops are bad, and
when the crops are good. the
wholesalers won't buy them
because of the vegetable
dumping on the market.
"I don't think I'd change it for
another job though," ponders
Art, scratching his head. "There
are times though, what with a
15% to 20% increase in tractor
fuel and fertilizer, that I have
given it some thought."
Art Brett enjoys being his own
boss in spite of the struggles
with the crops and the markets.
As he turns to go back at the
field of rocks Rick and he have
to move. he adds, "You know,
I've never had unemployment
insurance in my whole life but I
don't know whether I envy the
man who's on it today and
doesn't have to face this field."
Still laughing, he turns on his
heel and gets back to work . I!