There’s good news from Scotian Gold Co-operative; in fact, from the whole apple industry.

Scotian Gold is expanding its storage facilities to hold more of the apple crop, which is seeing the benefits of new varieties, research and production improvements. As co-op officials say, the apple sector remains the basis of a number of successful farms in the Valley.

The 2007 crop was the largest to come to Scotian Gold, as noted by agricultural services vice president Larry Lutz, and the co-op moved ahead its plan to add additional Controlled Atmosphere Storage (CAS) facilities.

This is due in part to consumer demand for crisp Annapolis Valley apples year-round. By the fall, Scotian Gold’s CA and refrigerated capacity will grow by 5,700 bins to 52,000 – some 35 million pounds. This is up from 20,000 bins, or 14 million pounds, in 1993.

Lutz noted that despite the decline in acreage since the Second World War, production per acre has increased. But it doesn’t begin and end with Scotian Gold by any means.

Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association (NSFGA) executive director Dela Erith conforms there’s good news in the sector. Crop sizes average about 2.25 million bushels or so, but the 2007 crop is larger than that, though by how much is not yet known.

The sector is seeing the benefits of its honey crisp variety investment, with replanting programs taking place for gala and ambrosia varieties, as well. The popularity and quality of honey crisp, for example, is strong enough to resist the negative aspects of the high Canadian dollar.

The apple sector farm gate value alone is $10-11 million. This doesn’t include production and marketing spin-offs.

And backing all this, apple crop, harvest and processing research conducted at Kentville is at least as good as any being done elsewhere, Erith says.

There’s no negative side to it, she added. The tempo is increasing and there is realistic optimism.

This welcome news comes at a time when the pork industry is impacted heavily by a number of debilitating factors including high production costs and low commodity prices. As well, poultry processing took a hit early last year with the Canard Poultry plant closure. Each of these industries affect local families and the economy.

So it’s a positive thing to hear that one part of the agricultural sector is doing well and expanding.

As a community that depends on the well-being and viability of our industries including the long-time base of our economy – agriculture – we hope there are more ideas and plans unveiled at the upcoming 144th NSFGA annual convention in Greenwich Jan. 29-30. The theme will be ‘Buy Local: Can We Benefit?’

The event will be preceded by Nova Scotia Horticulture’s Scotia Horticulture Congress, which will include two days of how to improve production and marketing, including from the consumers’ point of view.

Indeed, good news from the apple sector – and hopefully from others in the agricultural industry – has an impact. We welcome it and wait anxiously for more.