Gilbert Allen
Gilbert W. Allen was born in Queens County, Nova Scotia in 1935. His interest in horticulture began early while working in a Milton greenhouse and florist operation. In 1954, he moved to the Annapolis Valley to work on A. D. Rafuse and Sons Farm before beginning his formal education at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro. Upon completion of the Advanced Farming Diploma in 1956, Gilbert began work with Agriculture Canada. Based in Kentville, he spent seven years conducting crop research at experimental project stations throughout western Nova Scotia.
In 1959, Gilbert and his wife Dorothy purchased their first farm in Kentville. Four years later, they bought their current farm in Billtown where they raised their three children Janice, Jeffrey, and Joel. In 1964, Gilbert left his position with Agriculture Canada to pursue his childhood dream of farming full time. G. W. Allen nursery began as a mixed operation of beef and apples, but Gilbert鈥檚 true passion was certified strawberry plants and raspberry canes.
Gilbert鈥檚 goal was to grow the healthiest, best quality stock for berry growers in the Maritimes. He learned from experts at the Kentville Research station, consulted with the Department of Agriculture, and studied at length on fruit production. From the first acre planted, Gilbert was committed to providing growers with clean stock for improved fruit production. As a former crop researcher, Gilbert understood the value of field studies, and for many years his nursery was used for plant breeding and nutrition research. His commitment to improving his root stock earned Gilbert a reputation for supplying quality plants.
As Gilbert鈥檚 knowledge and expertise grew, so did demand for his product. He began providing dormant stock for earlier springtime planting, and supplying graded, bundled, and packaged plants to producers across Canada. By the late 1960s, the consistent supply of healthy stock led to an increase in the yields and profitability of the fruit-growing industry. Today, Nova Scotia certified strawberry plants and raspberry canes can be found across Canada and northeastern United States.
Gilbert鈥檚 reputation for high quality stock resulted in requests from Florida producers interested in early-bearing, disease-free plants. In 1975, Gilbert grew the first crop of strawberry plants in Canada for export to the state of Florida for the winter strawberry industry. Gilbert鈥檚 business acumen and dedication to plant quality improved not only his own production, but that of his fellow producers. The success of his initial crop led to the development of a major export crop for as many as five nurseries in the province. This resulted in the export of millions of bareroot plants and plugged plants. As the success of the Nova Scotia industry grew, it led to a large production of export plants by growers in Quebec and Ontario. For many years, Canada was the major supplier of plant stock across Florida.
As a producer, Gilbert鈥檚 mentorship impacted countless fruit producers. His interests were always in strengthening the horticulture industry for the benefit of all. His leadership was honoured by the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists in 1999, when Gilbert and Dorothy received the Distinguished Farm Award. Gilbert is now retired, and G. W. Allen Nursey is operated by his son Jeffrey.
Nominated by Horticulture Nova Scotia for his dedication to the development of quality stock and innovative markets, Gilbert W. Allen is a deserving inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.