THE DOUKHOBOR JAM FACTORY at Grand Forks

In the early twentieth century, the Doukhobors established a vast communal fruit-growing enterprise at Grand Forks. Not only did these pacifist agriculturalists maintain extensive, attractive, and productive orchards, they were also at the forefront of local fruit processing development. The following article examines one such development—the impressive but short-lived Kootenay-Columbia Preserving Works, a jam factory and cannery at Grand Forks—its establishment and operation, as well as the questions that remain regarding its mysterious and untimely demise. Orchard development Between 1909 and 1912, Peter V. Verigin on behalf of the Doukhobor Society purchased 4,182 acres of land west of Grand Forks.1 During this time, 713 Doukhobors resettled there from Saskatchewan, constructed villages, and proceeded to develop the land for large-scale fruit growing.2 While a small acreage was already under mature orchard,3…