As the sun sets over Avtar Dhillon’s farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia, a sea of exquisite purple flowers is in full blossom. Deep inside these blooms, the crimson threads of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, are thriving.
Expressing his aspiration for Abbotsford, Dhillon shares, “It’s my dream to bring something unique to Abbotsford.” His journey into saffron cultivation commenced in 2021, where he pioneered the growth of this ancient spice on a larger scale in British Columbia, standing as one of the few across the country. However, following a successful initial crop, Dhillon faced heartbreak when the B.C. floods in November inundated his farm, submerging nearly 250,000 saffron bulbs under the muddy waters. Despite this setback, he remains resolute in his mission to establish Abbotsford as the saffron capital of British Columbia.
Fast forward four years, Dhillon’s dream is once more flourishing. Expanding his saffron farm, he is actively developing new technologies to enhance harvesting efficiency and has become a source of inspiration for fellow farmers in Abbotsford, as well as in Alberta and Ontario.
Walking through his 1.5-acre crop in late October, which now houses over 500,000 saffron bulbs, Dhillon exclaims, “I feel excited.” However, amid the careful process of flower harvesting, a significant challenge persists – ensuring insurance coverage for his prized crop, a security measure he eagerly anticipates for himself and fellow growers.
Despite challenges, Dhillon’s determination is unwavering. His family, including his wife, father, and sister-in-law, diligently pluck saffron threads from freshly harvested flowers. Each day’s effort proves worthwhile, with a single gram of their saffron fetching $50.
To streamline the labor-intensive process, Dhillon has expanded his team and collaborated with a designer to craft equipment for planting bulbs and harvesting the spice efficiently. His efforts have not only spurred other growers who have acquired bulbs from his farm but have also led to innovative experimentation with saffron.
At Charanjit Singh’s farm in Abbotsford, scientists from Canadian Invitro Technologies are engaged in growing saffron plants in controlled conditions using advanced tissue culture technology. Baljit Singh Gill, the scientist overseeing the process, explains how the plants are carefully selected for their desirable traits and propagated for disease-free saffron production within Canada.
Beyond the Fraser Valley, in Calgary, entrepreneur and engineer Vikash Sangwan has embarked on growing saffron as a hobby in his garage. His creation, the Saffron Box, employs AI technology to create optimal conditions for indoor saffron cultivation. Sangwan envisions a future where more Canadians benefit from saffron cultivation, aiming for the country to emerge as a prominent saffron supplier.
The ongoing innovation within the saffron industry highlights the growing interest among Canadians in exploring alternative crops, notes Lenore Newman, director of the food and agriculture institute at the University of the Fraser Valley. She emphasizes how diversifying the agricultural sector can bolster Canada’s economy and food sovereignty.
As the day ends in the Sumas Prairie, Avtar’s family continues their laborious work, with the anticipation of another harvest of saffron, the “red gold,” still on the horizon.