Centrebrook Farm
Lester and Mark Craig
On this family farm, Mark Craig grew up knowing that he wanted to follow in his father’s muddy farming footsteps. He got a degree in Plant Science from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and came home to take on more responsibility on his father Lester’s 600 acre property.
Lester was more than happy to see Mark take such a keen interest in the farm, “I don’t want to see this land sold or not farmed,” he says. He is very pleased that both Mark and his younger brother Brent have taken up the farming torch. Brent has been growing and selling early potatoes to the Supermarket industry and has shown a keen interest in the family farm. And it was Mark who brought home the idea of organic agriculture. With slight scepticism, Lester allowed Mark to begin a small plot of organic potatoes and now their 160-acre potato operation is just under 50% organic. “I grew up organic really,” says Lester Craig. “and I don’t like seeing the land saturated with chemicals. I believe there are too many chemicals used on Prince Edward Island – and just like drinking alcohol – there’s a point where you’ve had too much.”
Lester’s wife Sharon, and Mark’s wife Tammy, play an equally important role in all aspects of the farm. “We all run this operation together, it’s a true family farm!” Says Lester, obviously proud of the professional set-up they have worked hard to achieve. They even have an extremely loyal employee, who started on the farm when he was 14 years old and has worked with them since. They are no small operation either, with their large warehouse, storage and packing facility full of huge loads of potatoes waiting to be sorted and bagged.
Although their mainstay is potato production, the Craigs’ also raise conventional beef and are planning to expand their vegetable crop varieties. For now, their potatoes are used for both retail sale and as certified seed stock. Their specialities are red chieftains (Mark’s favourite, and a great baker potato), Penta Yellow (a Dutch version of the Yukon Gold potato) and Russet Goldrush (a traditional long baker potato with excellent flavour). They chose these varieties based on their versatility and good taste and appearance.
If you’re looking for good organic potatoes from a locally owned and operated family farm, the Craig’s have made it easy for you on Prince Edward Island you don’t have to look too far, Centrebrook Farm is more than happy to be your source for the best of the Island’s specialty crop!
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