Nova Scotia fruit growers are undertaking an important industry study to help the sector prepare for future growth in world markets.
The federal government Feb. 22 announced $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.
The study will consult NSFGA 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.
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.”
