Cranberry industry may roll

“We are a good natural spot for it because we have lots of suitable bog land for harvesting cranberries,” said CAO of the Municipality of Shelburne, Kirk Cox.

The municipality has been receiving quite a bit of attention in the last few months with big name growers like Ocean Spray visiting.

The area has tried in the past to lure growers but without success. No one was looking for new production and the idea was put aside.

But since then anyone who is a serious cranberry grower in the world today is looking for more land and is desperate, said Cox.

“I’m as skeptical as the next person,” said Cox. “But after meeting some of these people…the world market is as such that we are in a prime position. The stars are just lined up.”

The provincial government, the Department of Agriculture, and environment are all involved including the municipality and the South West Shore Development Authority (SWSDA).

SWSDA was given two plots of land by the province during their first attempt to secure growers in the area, one in Yarmouth County and one in Shelburne County.

In order for a grower to seriously look at the area, they will need 1000 acres of suitable land for harvest.

The province has statistics that inform there are 20,000 acres in the municipality but much work is needed to be done before production can be even thought of.

Environmental studies must first happen to determine whether there are any issues including sensitive or unique species of plants on the land.

“We will only know if it is a possibility when all the processes are done and the environmental assessments are done,” said Cox.

Currently the municipality’s role is to work with these companies while they see if it is possible and act as liaisons’ between them and the various levels of government.

“We have to act fast,” warned Cox. “We cant just sit back and let it all happen, we’re going to have to be active…if we let them wait forever they will be gone.”

Growers are also looking at land in New Brunswick.

Cox stated that all the right pieces are here with both the land and the workforce to operate the fields.

The season for working with cranberries operates opposite that of lobster season and could take advantage of fishery-related infrastructure such as cold storage.

“It would mean that local people would have an opportunity to stay and work here doing Natural Resource and Harvesting jobs,” explained Cox, adding that if all goes well operations could start as soon as this summer. “The community needs some good news.”