Sauvie Island Farms History

Some history…..

Sauvie Island Farms was established in 1966 by Jerry and Carol Egger, who started the first u-pick strawberries on Sauvie Island.

Jerry bought this farm from Carol’s father, Carl Keller, who had a dairy and turkey farm and also grew potatoes. 

Jerry and Carol grew pole beans, cucumbers & cabbage for Steinfeld's, sweet corn and other row crops and berries. They planted the peach orchard in 1975. 

For many years, Carol ran the u-pick business from the driveway of their home, especially when it was peach season.

Carol was the bookkeeper for the farm. Jerry and Carol’s four children worked on the farm in the u-pick and operating equipment.  Their son David became partners with his dad in 1984.  Jerry and Carol retired at the end of 1994, with David buying the farm from them beginning in 1995.  Jerry was also partners with his sister and brother in law at Sauvie Island Farms Market, which is now Krugers Farm Market.  Jerry loved to hunt ducks, geese and deer on this property, and he spent many of his retirement years operating tractors for David.

2017….

May 19, 2017 Carol was admitted to the hospital after having a few dizzy spells.  She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, lived two more weeks, and passed away June 3, 2017.  This was an unexpected and sudden loss for our family.

June 14, 2017   Jerry was admitted to hospital with congestive heart failure, an ailment he has been dealing with for several years.  He passed away on June 20, 2017……just 17 days after his beloved Carol.  We believe he died from a ‘broken heart’. 

Jerry and Carol were married 60 years.  Partners in the farm business, partners in loving and supporting their 4 children & spouses, 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandsons, partners in life…and now death. 

Our family is reeling from the past 6 weeks of hospital stays, dealing with all that goes with end of life, and now the missing hole of losing both parents so quickly.

We are a family farm….many family members work here.  We are grieving this sudden loss of both parents.  We had put aside our farming duties...planting…weeding…mowing…to spend time with them during their last days. 

If things look different around the farm this year, it’s because things are different.

We are sad, we are adjusting to a new normal, and are mourning while trying to move on.  It has just been a week since Grandpa has been gone.

Jerry and Carol lived an idyllic life on Sauvie Island. They lived with integrity, faith, love and hope.

We, their children, will attempt to continue their legacy……

thank you for your patience and understanding, as we try to get back to work.

If you knew Jerry and Carol and would like to share a memory of them with the family, you can send an email to:  jcegger@live.com

Pick Your Own available this week:
Early Blue Blueberries

Tulameen and Saanich Raspberries

Yellow Raspberries

Cabbage & Kale

U-cut Flowers:  Shasta Daisies, Hydrangea, Lavender, Lilies, Baby's Breath.