Nova Scotia spends an additional $7M to extend growing season, increase local food

Strawberries are pictured in berry baskets. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

The province is partnering with Horticulture Nova Scotia to increase funding for the Season Extension Enhancement Program to extend the growing season and increase the availability of local produce.

The province will spend an additional $7 million on the program, said a Wednesday news release.

“Consumers want to buy local products year-round, especially with the expansion of the Nova Scotia Loyal program,” said Greg Morrow, minister of Agriculture. “The additional funding will help our fruit and vegetable growers to extend their growing seasons, adapt to a changing climate with undercover production, and open up new market opportunities.”

The enhancement program helps farmers expand operations, extend the season and increase productivity by funding greenhouses, irrigation, lighting and cold storage, said the release.

“Farmers have consistently requested the return of this popular program since its first iteration. It is a practical program targeting designated areas our farmers themselves have identified as important and necessary to season extension,” said Marlene Huntley, Executive Director, Horticulture Nova Scotia.

The $7 million will be added to $1.5 million in funding that remains from the last round of program funding.

Sixty-four farms have been helped by the Season Extension Enhancement Program so far.

Jordan Eyamie, manager of Webster Farms Ltd. and president of Horticulture Nova Scotia, said the program was essential to his farm.

“Without the tunnels we bought with funding assistance, we wouldn’t have a profitable raspberry crop,” said Eyamie. “It helped us continue producing market quality raspberries, which are in high demand. New funding will allow us to continue tapping into that market and make us competitive with countries such as USA and Mexico.”

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