West Vancouverite honoured for transforming global farming with sustainable practices, championing community causes
Published Aug 05, 2024 • 4 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Article content
When John Anderson started out loading trucks and trains at a food distribution warehouse in Coquitlam when he was 17, he didn’t envision running the company some day, or of collecting a trove of business and service awards along the way.
He took the warehouse job because he was too young to be a commercial pilot.
On Monday, Anderson was one of 12 people appointed to the Order of B.C., the province’s highest honour, for transforming global farming with sustainable practices and championing community causes.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Vancouver Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
“I had my pilot’s license before I had my driver’s license,” Anderson said from a property on Lasqueti Island that has been in his family for generations.
“By the time I was 16, I had my my commercial pilot’s license and that was my goal, to be a commercial pilot, but the airlines didn’t hire someone unless they had 10 years of experience back in those days.
“So I was given an opportunity to work in this warehouse and I took it.”
He started out unloading 50-kilogram sacks of potatoes and 25-kilo crates of ice-covered cabbage in 1975 from railcars and semitrailers, but managers obviously saw something in the North Vancouver teen and Delbrook Secondary grad, and moved him into sales by the time he was 18.
Today, Anderson is chair, CEO and managing partner (having sold a 65-per-cent stake to food giant Dole in 2011) of Oppy, formerly Oppenheimer Group, 49 years after his humble beginnings with the company.
And he didn’t give up on his dream of flying, founding Anderson Air in 1980 to provide charter services throughout North America, Europe and South America. The planes are also used, when time is of the essence, to transport doctors and organs for transplants, another part of the reason he was appointed to the Order of B.C.
West Coast Homes
Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of West Coast Homes will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
He credits his mother’s teachings during summers growing up on Lasqueti, lessons about hard work and integrity, for how he was able to convert Oppy into a global leader in sustainable agriculture and income provider for thousands of farm families worldwide.
“I was in the warehouse and they asked me if I’d come into sales. I guess maybe opportunities existed and they thought maybe I’d be good at it,” Anderson said.
He started by selling Chinese gooseberrires (Kiwifruit) and Granny Smith apples from New Zealand, both of which needed a publicity agent at the time.
“Back in those days, those fruits weren’t much of anything,” Anderson said. “The challenge was to branch those out across North America.”
He worked with food critics, including The Vancouver Sun’s, on recipes, and he convinced people that Granny Smith’s weren’t just for baking apple pies.
He oversaw the introduction of the golden Kiwi (and soon to be released, the red Kiwi, a cross between the green and gold, Anderson said, with hints of strawberry, that should appear on shelves next year).
Oppy also introduced Gala, Braeburn, Jazz and Envy apples to North America.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Growers in more than 30 countries get hundreds of millions of dollars in low-cost financing every year from Oppy, while tens of millions of dollars go back to producers through fair trade and living wages.
“Fair trade means we put a certain amount of money from everything else we sell back into the community we purchase the produce from,” Anderson said. “It doesn’t go to the businesses there, it goes to the workers.
“It’s very structured, the workers vote on where the money gets spent. Does it go to dentistry, to health, to education, to school buses, to housing?
“We’ve been doing that for many years in Central and South American countries.”
Oppy has been around since B.C. was founded in 1858. Although it has about 350 direct employees today, Oppy has offices in 18 countries dealing with 400,000 growers.
The company also donates to Metro Vancouver food banks and area hospitals.
When Anderson joined in 1975, annual sales were $7 million, about $40 million in 2024 dollars. Sales today are almost 40 times that, at about $1.5 billion annually.
Anderson became CEO in 1992 and was the sole owner until Dole acquired a majority share 13 years ago.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Oppy’s corporate philosophy of sustainability and of giving back has roots in his mother’s lessons and his own experience.
“I want workers to feel they’re being taken care of properly,” Anderson said. “I started in the warehouse and i’ve done pretty much every job in the company before taking over and owning it.
“I know how important everybody’s job is, it’s really clear to me. I want people to feel valued for what they are doing.”
This website uses tracking tools, including cookies. We use these technologies for a variety of reasons, including to recognize new and past website users, to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. You agree to our Privacy Policyand Terms of Accessby clicking I agree.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.