Shock and devastation have turned to determination at Pedro Gonzales Fruit and Garden Ltd.
Just six days after a fire that destroyed a seed barn and half of the main sales building, the popular centre will open tomorrow, Sept. 14 with a variety of fruit, vegetables, plants and landscaping materials for sale.
“We’re still picking corn and apples and we have a commitment to our growers down south,” says co-owner Nicole Ruth, noting the kind words and encouragement offered by the many people stopping by and calling has helped energize the Ruth family to move forward.
“People are jumping in to help, dropping their day’s schedule to help us with power and water,” Ruth says, noting how well the many small, local businesses stick together. “Other small businesses rely on us for their businesses and we’re trying to accommodate them.”
Also encouraging the Ruths is the 10 to 15 regular employees who have worked for the family for several years.
While the shock of seeing their thriving business going up in flames occasionally pops into their minds, Ruth says the family is not dwelling on the fire, which has been deemed suspicious, but is putting their energies into rebuilding.
The investigation has been turned over to the RCMP and the family is leaving them to get on with what they have to do.
