R. Douglas Bragg
R. Douglas Bragg was born February 19, 1930 in Collingwood, Nova Scotia. A graduate of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Doug joined Bragg Lumber Company as Manager and eventually became President. He served as Vice President of Oxford Frozen Foods and Vice President of Amherst Cable and Tri-Town Cable Companies, finishing his career as President of Douglas Bragg Enterprises Limited.
Douglas Bragg Enterprises Limited was established in Collingwood, Nova Scotia on May 1, 1986. This company was formed primarily to manufacture a patented mechanical wild blueberry harvester, developed by Doug Bragg. The development of the so called "Bragg" harvester revolutionized the wild blueberry industry. In addition, Doug developed a number of other unique agricultural implements related to the cultivation of wild blueberries. The flail mower is an example. This mower is a safe, environmentally friendly, cost efficient alternative to burning of wild blueberries and is now the most common method of pruning the crop.
With over 40 years experience in woodland, wild blueberry operations and carrot farming, Doug Bragg was know for his keen eye for appraisal of wood and crop land and his innovative ideas for production. Doug Bragg Enterprises Limited today operates a large acreage of wild blueberry land of its own and has land management agreements with a number of smaller growers. This involves custom land leveling, burning, mowing, fertilizing, spraying and harvesting.
Doug Bragg always maintained a strong interest in the blueberry industry. Not only was he a manufacturer of the patented wild blueberry harvester and a blueberry producer himself, but he was an active member of the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia. From 1979 to 1981 he served as a Director and was an active member of the Research Committee from the time of its inception until the fall of 1996. He was a Founding Director of the Nova Scotia Blueberry Institute and was instrumental in the early days of its development and building of the research field station at Debert. In 1995 Doug received the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia Award of Recognition.
Always interested and involved in community activities Doug was active in many associations and organizations. He was President of the Kiwanis Club of Oxford and Area, Past Master of the Widow's Son Masonic Lodge, Member of the Cumberland School Board and the Springhill Vocational School Board as well as a member of the Cumberland Regional Industrial Commission, the Amherst and Area Industrial Commission and the Collingwood Garden Club to name but a few. He also found time to be co-chairman of the Cumberland County 4-H Horse and Pony Club
Doug and his wife Doreen raised five children in their home near Collingwood.
Doug Bragg was nominated by the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia in recognition of his contributions to the Agricultural Industry. It is fitting that Doug Bragg becomes an Inductee into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.