Tracy Hotchkiss, Hotchkiss Herbs & Produce Calgary, Alberta

When your 7-year-old daughter is quoted in the Calgary Herald saying ‘It sucks being a farmer’ most people might consider a career change. If you’re Tracy Hotchkiss of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Herbs & Produce you just shrug it off.

“It was the middle of summer, and we were busy 12 hours a day while Olivia was home with the babysitter” she explains. “What she missed was helping out; her favourite job is putting labels on bags and nobody does it as well as she does.”

Lifelong city kids, Tracy and her husband Paul moved to the country 18 years ago after Paul decided to make a serious life change and leave the oil and gas industry. Never one to do things conventionally, Paul felt the idea of learning to grow organic produce was a good challenge for his scientific mind. Within a few years their new farm received its organic certification from the OCIA.

Since then Hotchkiss Herbs & Produce has grown steadily, supplying organic tomatoes and a variety of root vegetables including beets, onions and potatoes to markets in southern Alberta.

Recent renovations and expansions have helped increase greenhouse space to more than an acre, with another ½ acre addition planned for next spring. “We’ll eventually increase to about 2 acres, but that’s it.” Tracy is committed to keeping the business small so she and Paul can continue being hands-on in all operations.

Of course, there have been challenges along the way. Tracy admits “There are days where I really dislike being a farmer”. Then she laughs and says wisely, “But, if you’re going to do anything right you might as well jump in with both feet.”