The fields where crews are moving dirt to potentially grow blueberries are visible from Don Schaplow’s property in Toledo on Thursday afternoon.
The fields where crews have been moving dirt since this spring are visible in the back left corner of this photo taken on Thursday afternoon in Toledo.
The fields where crews have been moving dirt since this spring are visible in this photo taken Thursday afternoon in Toledo.
What were previously fallow hayfields in Toledo have recently received a major increase in attention.
“They’re doing a top-notch job,” said Don Schaplow, who lives adjacent to the land in Toledo with his family. “This is big-time farming. It’s top quality, heavy equipment. They’re working 6 days a week. Lots of dirt has been moved leveling these fields out.”
Schaplow’s property touches fields where crews have been working since this spring. Multiple Toledo residents and one of the crew members working on the fields this week told The Chronicle the land will be used to grow blueberries.
“I think it’s great when I see blueberries going in instead of houses,” Schaplow said. “It makes me happy.”
According to records from the Lewis County Assessor’s Office, two different companies that are affiliated with Golden Eagle Group have purchased more than 1,000 acres in Toledo since 2016.
Golden Eagle Group is a private partnership formed by Aquilini Investment Group and manages various agricultural businesses. Aquilini Investment Group, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, invests in various sectors — including farming, according to information available on the Golden Eagle Group website and Aquilini Investment Group’s website.
Currently, Golden Eagle Blueberries owns and operates one of the largest blueberry holdings in the world. In the Pacific Northwest, there are more than 4,000 acres planted and in development.
Although the company purchased parcels under two different names — US Golden Eagle Farms Limited Partnership and GE Toledo Farms Limited Partnership — both appear to fall under Golden Eagle Group, according to records available through the Washington Secretary of State’s office.
Ryan Ells, who is the president of the Lewis County Farm Bureau board, said the only blueberry farms in Lewis County that he is currently aware of are two located in Mossyrock (Panamerican Berry Growers and Aldrich Berry Farm & Nursery, Inc.) and one in Boistfort. He believes there was a three-acre blueberry farm in Toledo at one time, but that the owners have since sold the plants.
Even if the 1,000 acres are entirely dedicated to blueberries, Ells said he does not believe it will intimidate blueberry growers in Mossyrock.
“Granted, your neighbor is your competitor, but I think it’s kind of a down market right now,” Ells said.
GE Toledo Farms Limited Partnership, which is based in Vancouver, purchased 829.49 acres in Toledo. It purchased some of the parcels in 2017 and others as recently as March of this year. In total, the company paid $1,790,550 for 13 parcels, according to the Lewis County Assessor’s Office.
GE Toledo Farms Limited Partnership bought land on Jackson Highway, Sareault Road, Tucker Road, Penny Lane, Gray Road, Poetsch Road and Boone Road.
According to the Washington Secretary of State’s website, GE Toledo Farms Limited Partnership formed on Nov. 9, 2017. The governors of the partnership are Toledo Farms LTD and Golden Eagle Berry Farms Canada Limited Partnership.
Since 2016, US Golden Eagle Farms Limited Partnership has purchased 192.07 acres. The company paid $900,000 for 27 parcels, according to the Lewis County Assessor’s Office. It purchased land on Schoolhouse Lane, Tucker Road and Sareault Road.
Golden Eagle Group did not respond to multiple requests for comment. It is unclear at this point how much of the land will be used to grow blueberries, what the timeline is for preparing the fields and if the company has plans to purchase more land in Toledo.
The City of Toledo has not had communication with those developing the land, according to Michelle Whitten, who is the city manager, clerk and treasurer.
In addition, Lewis County Community Development Services Director Lee Napier said her department has not had contact with US Golden Eagle Farms Limited Partnership nor GE Toledo Farms Limited Partnership.
At this point, any information Toledo residents have received regarding the fields have been informal conversations with crew members. Schaplow said he was impressed with the work crew members have performed thus far.
“I think it’s going to be awful pretty when those blueberry bushes turn bright red every October,” he said.
