The Heppell family’s Surrey potato operation has been granted another year on its federal lease, securing the continuation of a farm that produces about 50 million servings of potatoes and other crops each year. The 220‑acre site, located near 192nd Street and 36th Avenue, remains outside the Agricultural Land Reserve and is held on a year‑to‑year basis from the government.
Lease Extension Keeps the Fields Working
Earlier this year Tyler Heppel warned Global News that the lease might be terminated to make way for alternative uses such as housing or warehouses. The renewed agreement averts that immediate threat, allowing the Heppells to keep planting and harvesting on the land they have worked for generations. The farm’s output feeds a significant portion of the region’s demand for locally grown produce.
First Nations Seek Return of Traditional Territory
Simultaneously, the Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo nations have asserted that a portion of the property, known in their language as k’ʷeq’ənəq (Kwek‑en‑nek) and referred to locally as Campbell Heights North, lies within their traditional territory. They argue that restoring the land to Indigenous stewardship would support cultural revival and economic development for the three nations.
“Buy Canadian” Campaign Grows Amid Trade Tensions
The push to keep the farm operating dovetails with a broader national movement encouraging Canadians to buy home‑grown goods. Industry Minister Melanie Joly told reporters, “When you choose a Canadian product, you’re not only putting pressure on the U.S., right now you’re protecting jobs,” she said. Premier David Eby echoed the sentiment, stating, “Obviously we’ve seen another attack from the United States,” Eby said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “And again, I’m asking British Columbians, if you have a choice, please don’t travel to the United States. Choose another place to do your tourism. If you can choose a Canadian product instead of an American one, please choose it.”
Why it Matters
The lease extension preserves a vital source of fresh, locally produced food while highlighting the competing pressures on land use in Metro Vancouver—ranging from urban development pressures to Indigenous rights assertions. At the same time, the farm’s survival fuels the “Buy Canadian” narrative that is gaining traction as consumers respond to cross‑border trade disputes, illustrating how agricultural policy, cultural reconciliation and economic nationalism can intersect in a single parcel of land.
