Red Fife Wheat - Red Fife Revival

Red Fife Revival

From 1900 to 1988, Red Fife was grown in very small quantities in plant breeders’ seed collections.

The idea to introduce and commercialize Red Fife came from Sharon Rempel and Cuyler Page in the late 1980s at the 1870s historic site, the Grist Mill at Keremeos, B.C. Chief Interpreter Sharon Rempel wanted to plant the varieties of wheat that might have been milled at the Grist Mill during the 1880s.

Sharon wrote to various Agriculture Canada stations seeking information and seed. Leigh Crowle, a plant breeder from Saskatchewan, sent her one pound of each of the seven historic wheat varieties: Red Fife (1842), Ladoga (1880), Preston (1880), Stanley (1880), Hard Red Calcutta (1880), Marquis (1890), and Thatcher (1930). Dr. Crowle enclosed a handwritten card that read, "I’m retiring and these seeds are now your responsibility to care for and good luck."

Sharon called the University of British Columbia and was connected to Dr. Bert Brink, a retired agronomist. Brink taught Sharon the basics of growing out wheat in little field plots in a way that would ensure that there would be no cross pollination between varieties.

Holding back half the seed in case of crop failure, the half pound sample of Red Fife and other heritage varieties were planted in the spring of 1989. Like a magnet, the Living Museum of Wheat display attracted people who spent hours in the fields telling their friends and families stories about old wheat varieties. “I remember dad talking about Red Fife wheat…”

Grist Mill site managers Cuyler Page and Sharon Rempel had a vision: "Let’s grow these old wheats with the idea that one day Red Fife will be recommercialized in Canada."

The Red Fife wheat at The Keremeos Grist Mill was 'bulked up' and 800 pounds sent to Walter Walchuck in Edmonton and 800 pounds to Marc Loiselle in Saskatchewan.

The original "Keremeos" strain of wheat is the 'mother' of the current Red Fife wheat movement started by Sharon Rempel (www.grassrootsolutions.com).

The "Blais" strain of Red Fife is commonly sold throughout Canada. Farmer Blais received seed from Prairie Garden Seed and Walter Walchuk. Blais retired and sold his 'Blais' Red Fife seed to Walter who began to sell it to other farmers.