The first year of operation, 1947, was a success, with post-war Great Britain purchasing the entire production of 300 tons of raspberries. The following year, 1948, was an entirely different story. Britain was no longer dependant on Canada for its raspberry imports, and the financial return to the grower decreased by 50%. Changes in the sale of its product, resulted in a change of approach. "The solution was to expand the co-op's operating base by entering the feed supply business, a move that was compatible with the mixed farm operation of its members."
In 1953, the Co-op purchased a feed plant in the City of Chilliwack at a cost of $35,000. By 1960 the Co-op had constructed a state of the art feed manufacturing plant, that "was one of the first all steel feed mill structures in all of Canada." The Co-op, that began with a $973.00 investment in 1947, grew to the point where, by 1997, they had annual sales in excess of $100 million. Shortly after their 50th Anniversary in 1997, Co-op members "approved a restructuring proposal to exchange co-operative shares for corporation shares", and with that decision a new company Agro Pacific Industries Ltd. was formed.
Aerial view of East Chilliwack Co-op, now Agro Pacific, on Chilliwack Central Road. Norm Williams photo.