Funding for Fruit Producers

NS: Feds invest in province's fruit growing industry


Published on February 22, 2011
Published on February 22, 2011
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Topics : Nova Scotia Agricultural College , NSFGA , Innovative Communities Fund , Nova Scotia , Canada , Annapolis Valley
[KENTVILLE, NS] — Nova Scotia fruit growers will be receiving funding for a vital industry study to help the sector prepare for future growth in world markets.

Today, the Government of Canada announced it is investing $30,000 through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund; the Province of Nova Scotia will provide a grant of $5,000 and an additional $9,525 will come from the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association (NSFGA).

The NSFGA will consult extensively with its membership, Canadian and American stakeholders, the general agriculture industry and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College to secure views and insight into the industry’s future. Fruit growers are under significant pressure from the global over-supply of commodities, intense foreign competition, weather-related disasters, static consumption and retail consolidation.

“This is an important initiative that will position Nova Scotia fruit growers for enhanced growth and development into the future,” said Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister John MacDonell. “We have seen significant gains in new markets with unique and profitable apple varieties and in infrastructure that will ensure quality apples and apple products that consumers demand and expect.”

Nova Scotia’s fruit industry is an essential wealth generating component of the agriculture sector and is critical to the economic success of the Annapolis Valley, adds Dela Erith, executive director of the NSFGA.

“Nova Scotia’s fruit growers produce 10 per cent of Canada’s total apple production, create $14.7 million in farm gate sales and have an economic impact of about $72.5 million to the economy of Nova Scotia.”