Just Desserts: Strawberry Ice Cream

The History

Japanese Canadians comprised around 20% of the population of Pitt Meadows in the 1930s and 1940s. In Pitt Meadows there were around 40 Japanese Families. The booming community farmed mostly berries and vegetables, with some of the most popular being strawberries. It was hard work that necessitated the whole family pitching in to help on the farm. Families worked hard at developing their farms and creating lives for themselves in Pitt Meadows. A Japanese Community grew, and they could help each other as they had a mutual understanding of the hardships facing fellow Japanese Canadians.

The Pitt Meadows Japanese Farmers' Association was organized in the 1920s for educational purposes and community activities. It provided information related to agricultural practices and skills through means such as seminars and brochures. Its leadership closely overlapped that of other organizations in the community such as the Japanese Language School. In 1928, it was united with other similar organizations of Japanese farmers in the Lower Fraser Valley under the Consolidated Farmers' Association of the Fraser Valley. The Association ceased to be active after the war broke out in the Pacific in December 1941, when all the Japanese Canadian organizations were ordered to stop operating.

In 1942, during the Second World War, 238 Japanese Canadians from Pitt Meadows were forcibly removed from the community to internment camps away from the coast. Their properties and belongings were sold off with little compensation.

It wasn’t until long after the war, in 1949, that Japanese Canadians were allowed to return home to the coast. Sadly, very few of the Japanese Canadians returned to the area. All we have left now are memories and stories of the once vibrant community.

If you are interested in hearing their stories straight from them and their families, check it out here.

The Cookbook

This recipe comes out of our Blue Ribbon Cookbook. This cookbook was originally published in 1905! It was published by the Blue Ribbon Company which was established by George Frederick and John Galt in Winnipeg around 1897. The company would have printed these recipes books in order to promote their own products.

The Recipe

We don't think that you can go wrong with ice cream. Something about it brings a wonderful bit of nostalgia to all of us. Don't forget to add sprinkles!

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Return to the kitchen.