Gerrit Loo Memorial Achievement Award
The Gerrit Loo Memorial Achievement Award is handed out annually at the ACORN Conference to the person who has contributed significantly to the organic industry in Atlantic Canada. As of 2004, the winner is chosen from the province in which the Conference is held.
Gerrit Loo (January 28 1928 - January 19 2001)
Gerrit was born on a farm in Waggingen Netherlands. After surviving World War II he was drafted in the Dutch army and sent to Indonesia to fight in their war of independence. In 1951 he immigrated to Canada and settled in Prince Edward Island, where he bought a farm and, with his wife, Joyce raised seven children.
Gerrit had an abiding love of living things. He was especially interested in heirloom varieties of vegetables and farm animals. Although he had no formal training in plant genetics he understood the principles of plant breeding and collected his own seed, always carefully selecting for superior characteristics. In the 1970s he and his twin Evert began to experiment with potato breeding and became interested in breeding for disease resistance. Eventually they developed Island Sunshine and after a long process of field trials it was registered as a new variety in 1995. This was a very proud moment for him. Island Sunshine has several characteristics that make it a good organic cultivar.
Gerrit and Evert continued the plant breeding program until both became ill. Evert passed away in April 1999. Like many farmers, Gerrit also worked off the farm at various times during his life. Experience with production of frozen foods lead him to be hired by Seaspray Farms Organic Cooperative in the early 1990s to assist in the development of a line of frozen vegetables. He believed in the principles that Seaspray represents and eventually sought organic certification for his farm and remained a member of Seaspray until his death.
2007 winner:
Raymond Loo, PEI
2006 winner:
Neil Van Nostrand, NS
2005 winners:
Susan Tyler and Clark Phillips, NB
2004 winner:
Daphne Davey, PEI
2003 winner:
Sian Newman Smith, NS
2002 winners:
David Cozac and Debbie Russell, NB
2001 winner:
Stu Fleischhaker, NB
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