Nova Scotia will invest an additional $7 million to help fruit and vegetable farmers extend their growing seasons and meet year-round demand for local produce.
The Province announced Tuesday it is partnering again with Horticulture Nova Scotia to offer the Season Extension Enhancement Program, which provides funding for equipment like greenhouses, irrigation systems, lighting and cold storage facilities.
The program aims to help farmers adapt to climate change through undercover production methods and open new market opportunities as consumers increasingly seek local products throughout the year.
“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.”
Strong farmer demand drives program return
The program returns due to consistent requests from farmers who benefited from its previous iteration. Sixty-four farms previously received support through the enhancement program.
“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 of Horticulture Nova Scotia.
The new $7 million will be added to $1.5 million remaining from the last round of program funding, bringing the total available support to $8.5 million.
Helping farms stay competitive
For some operations, the program has proven essential to maintaining profitability and competing with international producers.
“The previous Season Extension Enhancement Program was essential to our farm as, without the tunnels we bought with funding assistance, we wouldn’t have a profitable raspberry crop. 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,” said Jordan Eyamie, manager of Webster Farms Ltd. and President of Horticulture Nova Scotia.
The program supports the province’s broader goal of increasing local food production and reducing reliance on imported produce. By helping farmers extend their growing seasons, the initiative aims to make Nova Scotia-grown fruits and vegetables available to consumers for more months of the year.
Applications for the Season Extension Enhancement Program funding are expected to open in the coming weeks, with details to be announced through Horticulture Nova Scotia and the Department of Agriculture.
