5 questions with Ryan Sakuma

It’s berry season at Sakuma Brothers Farms in Burlington, which means lots of activity in the fields and the processing facility. Ryan Sakuma, farm president at Sakuma Brothers Farms and long-time member of the EDASC Board of Directors, took some time out of his busy schedule to share a little bit about the operation.

1. What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about growing berries in Skagit County?
People are often surprised by how much our lives follow the seasons. In December, it might not get light until around 8 a.m. and it's getting dark by 4 p.m. During harvest, we're out in the fields by 4:45 a.m. and still have daylight until nearly 10 p.m. Those long summer days are one of the reasons Skagit County is such a great place to grow berries.
Another thing people don't realize is that our challenges completely flip with the seasons. In the winter, we're working hard to get water off the fields because our soils can become saturated. In the summer, we're doing everything we can to make sure the plants have enough water to produce high-quality fruit.

2. If you could give every first-time berry picker one tip before they head into the field, what would it be?
Get warmed up before you start, and don't sit too long during your breaks—especially your first few days. The first 15 minutes are usually the hardest as your back and legs get used to bending and moving. After that, your body settles in and it gets much easier. Most people who stick with it find that after a few days they're in a rhythm and it becomes much more comfortable.

3. How has the weather this season affected berry quality, timing, or harvest volume?
Weather is always the biggest variable in berry farming. Rain can make harvest challenging because berries are delicate, but too little rain can be just as difficult because we have to work harder to keep the plants healthy with irrigation. Every season is a balancing act, and we're constantly adapting to what Mother Nature gives us.
Fortunately, this season we've been pleased with the quality of the fruit. The timing has shifted a bit with the weather, but that's farming — you learn to be flexible.

4. What’s the biggest challenge and biggest reward of growing berries in this region?
One of the biggest challenges is that so much of what we do depends on things we can't control—weather and labor. The weather changes every year, and you have to adapt quickly.
With labor, though, I've seen it become much more of a partnership over the years. Our employees are a huge part of our success, and we work together toward the same goal: harvesting the highest-quality berries at the right time. We couldn't do it without them, and I think there's a lot of mutual respect that has grown over the years.

5. What's something most residents do not know about your farm?
One thing that surprises people is that while we're called Sakuma Brothers, the current ownership is actually made up of cousins, not brothers. As the business has been passed down through the generations, ownership has expanded throughout the family while remaining family owned. We all share the same commitment to producing high-quality berries and continuing the legacy that previous generations built.