Langley’s iconic Driediger Farms has a new owner.
An online statement posted by B.C. Farm & Ranch Realty Corp. on Saturday, Dec. 28 announced the sale of the third and final portion of the 160 acre property, a 78-acre site at 7361 240 St. that includes a frozen fruit processing facility and farm.
At a $26 million asking price for the 78-acre section, it was the highest sold farm on MLS ever, B.C. Farm & Ranch estimated.
Rhonda Driediger, president and owner of Driediger Farms Ltd. said she has been looking at “selling for the last couple of years.”
“I’ve had a number of different groups look at the overall operation over the last, probably, three years,” said Driediger, “just looking for the best fit for the property, for myself, for my staff, and what we’ve built here.”
Driediger, who bought out her last family member to become sole owner of the farm in 2005, said the property had to be split into three sections because it was “just such a high price that there was very few people that could afford to buy it.”
Realtor Rajin Gill called it a “renowned berry processing plant [that is] a truly one-of-a-kind agricultural property with deep roots in the community.”
Gill said said Driediger “has cemented an extraordinary legacy in the industry, building a state-of-the-art processing facility and setting the standard for excellence.”
“Congratulations to Rhonda on an incredibly successful career, this milestone sale is a true testament to decades of dedication, innovation, and hard work,” Gill said.
In response to online questions posted in response to the announcement, Gill said the new owner (who he did not identify) intends to continue operating the property as farmland and processing plant, describing them as a “very well respected company already in the industry” who have worked with Driediger in the past.
Driediger said the main parcel was purchased by a company that has two other processing facilities.
“This will be their third one, so they’ll be continuing on packing blueberries, and it’s just a really great fit. So, I’m pretty happy about it.”
Contrary to some of the online speculation, Driediger pointed out the farm is within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and could not be redeveloped.
“This property is not coming out of the ALR. Not in my lifetime,” Driediger told the Langley Advance Times.
Two smaller portions of the farm were sold earlier this year.
“Two of my neighbors bought two of the properties,” Driediger explained. “So, that’s good. They were able to expand their operations.”
She said she would be moving on to “some other projects,” but did not give details.
“I’m looking forward to retirement. And I’m very happy with the people that have purchased the properties. And they’re going to continue to be farmed and probably expanded a little bit more than what I was doing.”
Incorporated in 1964, Driediger Farms is one of B.C.’s largest wholesaler, retailer, producer and distributor of fresh and frozen berries, selling throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
It was also known for holding seasonal U-picks: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, but those have been discontinued.
Driediger Farms public market on 72 Ave. is now leased by Langley-based Krause Berry Farm and operated as Krause Express.
Driediger said she proposed the arrangement to Krause.
“I had approached them because we were just changing how we were doing things here on the farm, and I wasn’t going to be able to offer U-pick. And I’m like, would you guys be interested in running the market? And they liked that idea.”