Martin Streef loses battle with cancer
Martin Streef loses battle with cancer
Martin Streef loved nature.
About five years ago, Mr. Streef, an avid hunter and fisherman, was diagnosed with terminal adrenal cancer, and soon after, he put several thousand rainbow trout in a deep-water pond at one of Streef Produce Ltd.'s farms, which he operated with his four brothers, Peter, John, Albert and Jacob, and where he served as president.
"We lost a bunch of them that first year and then he put in a few thousand more, so now the pond is full of rainbow trout again," his brother Peter told The Produce News. "We said to him, 'Martin what are you doing?' It was our expense, not just his expense. His answer was, 'You guys have worked really, really hard and we've put a lot of things off because of our focus on our company. When I'm gone, I want you to remember every time you go past that pond and to stop and go fishing every once in a while."
Mr. Streef, 50, lost his battle with adrenal cancer April 30, and after his funeral May 5, about 35 members of his immediate family and close family friends heeded his wishes and fished in his honor, said his brother Albert, whose wife, Cory, died in November.
Peter Streef said that his brother got his start in the produce industry at the early age of 5 on their parents' market garden farm, where they grew vegetables by hand. "We started going to local farmers markets with my dad probably in 1962," he recalled.
In 1977, with Martin and Peter poised to graduate high school, Mr. Streef's father, Jan, encouraged the five brothers to join him in expanding on their market gardening experience and to buy a farm, set up a company and work together. The result was Streef Produce Ltd.
"Martin studied and focused on math and was excited about becoming an accountant," Peter Streef said. "Because we had already been working for years every night after school and during the summers, Martin was excited about my dad's suggestion and he took the position of secretary-treasurer" of the newly formed company.
When Jan, who was the firm's first president, retired a few years later, Martin moved up to president, Peter became vice president, and Albert became secretary-treasurer.
"Martin was a very calm person, he analyzed everything and he loved farming," Peter Streef said. "Until his last few days, he was still talking about the business, the weather, what he anticipated for the upcoming season, what we should be watching in the marketplace. He said we needed to keep going on and do what made us successful for the past 31 years. He said, 'The four of you have to keep working together and keep it equal.' He was so proud of all of us and how family has stayed together and how the next generation is now working at Streef Produce. We've accomplished something most families can't."
Peter Streef stressed that his brother "believed that agriculture is the foundation of civilization and needs to be protected. People need to be reminded of where all their food comes from, and that's the farm."
Martin Streef was involved with the Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the latter of which he was past president and remained an active director. He was the recipient of the "Outstanding Young Farmer Award" for Ontario in 1996, which was followed later that year with the "Outstanding Young Farmer Award" for all of Canada.
"He spent a lot of time developing relationships with farmers in community, and through Streef Produce, they have access to a market," Peter Streef said proudly.
"On May 7, Streef Produce Ltd. will go back to business minus one partner, but we will be stronger and we will aspire to be like him," an emotional Peter Streef said.
In addition to his brothers, Mr. Streef is survived by his wife, Olivia; his children, Christopher, Benjamin and Desiree; his parents, Jan and Johanna; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
The family has asked that donations be made to Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program to help inspire the younger generation to get involved in the industry. Proceeds will be split equally between the Ontario and Canadian chapters of the organization.
Checks should be made out to "Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program" and sent to Joan Cranston, Program Manager, Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers, 37 Carluke Road E., R.R. No. 2, Ancaster, ON, Canada, L9G 3L1.
About five years ago, Mr. Streef, an avid hunter and fisherman, was diagnosed with terminal adrenal cancer, and soon after, he put several thousand rainbow trout in a deep-water pond at one of Streef Produce Ltd.'s farms, which he operated with his four brothers, Peter, John, Albert and Jacob, and where he served as president.
"We lost a bunch of them that first year and then he put in a few thousand more, so now the pond is full of rainbow trout again," his brother Peter told The Produce News. "We said to him, 'Martin what are you doing?' It was our expense, not just his expense. His answer was, 'You guys have worked really, really hard and we've put a lot of things off because of our focus on our company. When I'm gone, I want you to remember every time you go past that pond and to stop and go fishing every once in a while."
Mr. Streef, 50, lost his battle with adrenal cancer April 30, and after his funeral May 5, about 35 members of his immediate family and close family friends heeded his wishes and fished in his honor, said his brother Albert, whose wife, Cory, died in November.
Peter Streef said that his brother got his start in the produce industry at the early age of 5 on their parents' market garden farm, where they grew vegetables by hand. "We started going to local farmers markets with my dad probably in 1962," he recalled.
In 1977, with Martin and Peter poised to graduate high school, Mr. Streef's father, Jan, encouraged the five brothers to join him in expanding on their market gardening experience and to buy a farm, set up a company and work together. The result was Streef Produce Ltd.
"Martin studied and focused on math and was excited about becoming an accountant," Peter Streef said. "Because we had already been working for years every night after school and during the summers, Martin was excited about my dad's suggestion and he took the position of secretary-treasurer" of the newly formed company.
When Jan, who was the firm's first president, retired a few years later, Martin moved up to president, Peter became vice president, and Albert became secretary-treasurer.
"Martin was a very calm person, he analyzed everything and he loved farming," Peter Streef said. "Until his last few days, he was still talking about the business, the weather, what he anticipated for the upcoming season, what we should be watching in the marketplace. He said we needed to keep going on and do what made us successful for the past 31 years. He said, 'The four of you have to keep working together and keep it equal.' He was so proud of all of us and how family has stayed together and how the next generation is now working at Streef Produce. We've accomplished something most families can't."
Peter Streef stressed that his brother "believed that agriculture is the foundation of civilization and needs to be protected. People need to be reminded of where all their food comes from, and that's the farm."
Martin Streef was involved with the Fresh Vegetable Growers of Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the latter of which he was past president and remained an active director. He was the recipient of the "Outstanding Young Farmer Award" for Ontario in 1996, which was followed later that year with the "Outstanding Young Farmer Award" for all of Canada.
"He spent a lot of time developing relationships with farmers in community, and through Streef Produce, they have access to a market," Peter Streef said proudly.
"On May 7, Streef Produce Ltd. will go back to business minus one partner, but we will be stronger and we will aspire to be like him," an emotional Peter Streef said.
In addition to his brothers, Mr. Streef is survived by his wife, Olivia; his children, Christopher, Benjamin and Desiree; his parents, Jan and Johanna; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
The family has asked that donations be made to Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program to help inspire the younger generation to get involved in the industry. Proceeds will be split equally between the Ontario and Canadian chapters of the organization.
Checks should be made out to "Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers Program" and sent to Joan Cranston, Program Manager, Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers, 37 Carluke Road E., R.R. No. 2, Ancaster, ON, Canada, L9G 3L1.
