Spirit N.S. pins hopes on produce auction success

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS

NovaNewsNow.com



The Annapolis Valley could be the harvest home for a fresh idea to sell local produce within the province should plans brought forward by the Spirit Nova Scotia Environmental Catalyst Team follow through.

Team Chair Ralph Martin presented plans for a wholesale produce auction Jan. 10 to an interested group of 30 people from throughout the province at the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre in Kentville.

The idea is for local farmers to bring in large quantities of fruits and vegetables, which can be placed on pallets in long rows for live auctioning between buyers such as store owners, restaurant owners or organizations requiring wholesale produce, Martin said. “It’s a way to facilitate the marketing of local produce.”

A production auction has helped farmers for the last four years in Elmira, Ont.

Martin said the idea struggled though some problems in the first few years, but it’s working better now.

“I grew up in Elmira and this summer I went to their produce auction. That’s where the idea for having one here comes from,” he said.

Emphasis on ‘buy local’

The emphasis is on keeping things local because stores want places at which to buy local produce and farmers in Nova Scotia need to have opportunities to market produce in the future, Martin said.

“However, the event would not be open to the general public except perhaps to those who would want to buy wholesale.”

Larry Thomas, a committee member with the project plan, says this is the best solution for the province to take advantage of the healthy soil, clean air, friendly community and good food the area has to offer.

Locals want to buy produce from this province to preserve the industry and ensure it can continue to grow, Thomas added. “They know it will really help the producers too because it’s a tough job being a farmer these days.”

Piquing interest

Area Account Manager Michael Comeau, who deals with the economic development of businesses and organizations in Digby and Annapolis counties, attended the meeting because he was interested in finding out more about the concept.

“It’s too early to say if the project will turn out successfully, but the idea is definitely piquing interest among the local producers,” Comeau said. “I left the meeting very optimistic.”

Gerry MacCallum, a wholesale distributor from Truro, says he attended the meeting because he was interested in the overall aspect and wanted to know first-hand if there was something going on with the distribution of local produce.

“There’s enough potential in the idea to give it a try, but there could be some issues if, going to this event, someone were to come back with nothing because buyers need to always have a supply,” MacCallum said. “You’d still have to have a direct relationship with the farmers as a buyer.”

However, it would be a good opportunity for farmers to meet, MacCallum said. “I found the overall ideas at the meeting very interesting.”

More information on the produce auction can be obtained by e-mailing Ralph Martin at rmartin@nsac.ns.ca or by checking out the website, www.spiritnovascotia.ca.