Formosa Nursery is a certified organic farm located in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. We have been a wholesale/retail operator for over 30 years. Our buyers include Whole Foods Market, Pro-Organics, SPUD home delivery and loyal families and visitors from surrounding communities. We grow organic blueberries and open our farm each year to the public for U-Pick.

Our Fight with the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority

About four years ago, the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, known as TransLink, decided to build the Abernathy Connector to the Golden Ears Bridge. In April 2007, despite months of countless petitions and numerous protests, TransLink authorized bulldozers to start work. They arrived at 6:00 a.m. without notice and tore our farm into two pieces. Thousands of mature organic blueberry bushes were destroyed. Most were more than 30 years old and had been planted by my parents-in-law. This project has threaten our organic status since.

TransLink refused to move the Connector 30 meters south, along the south edge of our farm. They claimed it would cost too much of taxpayers money. They promised to give us fair compensation if we kept quiet and so we did not protest further. Since the construction started, our lawyer contacted

TransLink but received no respond. The TransLink was quieter than we had been. We then realized our lives had been jeopardized.

Our hearts have been torn apart as our land is disappearing in front of our eyes. Our lives will never be the same. We find it hard to be proud Canadians when our government fails to protect the interests of their citizens. We feel deeply wounded and hopeless, but our two children are depending on us, as are countless families who we share great memories.

We did, however, get much support from the local NDP, MLA, media, communities, and families. We aim to show the photos of our farm before and after this incident. We hope you can help by spreading the news and raising awareness of the need to protect our farm and other valuable organic farmland, which is rapidly disappearing.