"I've wanted to work overseas since I was in university. Now I have something solid to give,” said Dawson, referring to his over 25 years in agriculture.
 
Dawson is especially interested in working in the area of micro-credit which is the extension of small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. Bangladeshi banker and economist Muhammad Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering role in the successful application of micro-credit, often in agricultural settings.
 
“I know about running a small business from being an orchardist,” said Dawson, who is also taking a course in micro-credit finance in preparation for his new endeavor.
 
Dawson will take the prestige of being an award-winning agriculturist with him.
 He received the Compact Orchard Award for a block of Ambrosia apples which were uniformly healthy and produced excellent quality fruit in the third year.
 
 “I want to do my volunteer work in a French-speaking area,” said Dawson, who grew up in Quebec.
 
After earning an undergraduate degree from McGill University in political science and philosophy in 1971, Dawson was searching for direction in life. He decided on agriculture, although it was not in the family background. He subsequently studied agriculture at Macdonald College in Ste. Anne de Bellevue near Montreal before moving to the Similkameen in 1980. At age19, Dawson had been introduced to the valley while on an Outward Bound program.
 
 Although attracted to the lifestyle he was clear that orcharding had to be a viable business. Upon arrival in Cawston, Dawson rented an orchard for several years.
In 1986, he obtained a long-term lease on an 8-hectare parcel of land which he operated until last year. In 1998, he purchased a neighbouring 2.2-hectare orchard which he continues to run.
 
“Leasing allowed me to farm and eventually to buy my own property. Leasing from a supportive landowner is extremely important,” Dawson said.
 
He and Sylvia Lang, owner of the 8-hectares, have found their arrangement mutually beneficial.
 
“Tony’s a good grower and good with people,” said Lang.
 
“She allowed me the freedom to replant everything,” Dawson said, recalling the years of hard work and tight finances it took to replant the entire orchard.
 
His new high-density plantings included Sunrise, Royal Gala, Fuji and Braeburn.
Dawson considers replanting with new varieties and obtaining organic certification to be two of his best business decisions. His certification is through the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society which was formed in 2001 in order to provide organic certification to the level required by the International Standards Organization. This high level of certification means produce is acceptable to all jurisdictions, including Europe which has especially strict requirements.
 
“I’m pleased to have contributed to this approach to pest and disease management,” he said, reflecting on the shift from automatically using synthetic chemicals to also considering biological methods. The recent arrival of the clearwing moth in the area, the larvae of which burrow into graft sites, is an example of this shift. In the past orchardists would have sprayed in order to control this pests, but today they are using pheromones.
 
 
As Dawson prepares to enter a new phase in his life, he’s content with what he’s already accomplished.
 
“I achieved my goals of becoming a farmer and of financial success,” he said.

Susan McIver