Nova Scotia’s climate and geography are well-suited to agriculture. Today, the agri-food sector is actively diversifying from commodities and focussing on quality, innovation and value-added opportunities.
Dairy is the leading sector, with farm sales of more than $100 Million, followed by poultry, fur, horticultural crops, floriculture and nursery, eggs and beef cattle. Primary agriculture production and food processing together generate more than $900 Million annually. The agricultural economy employs over 7,500 Nova Scotians.
Wild blueberries are the highest value cash crop grown in the province, with an estimated farm gate value of over $25 Million. Nova Scotia is one of a few areas in the world where they are harvested commercially; 90% of the annual crop is exported.
The Nova Scotia wine industry has grown substantially since the first commercial vineyards were planted in the mid-1970s. Nova Scotia now has six distinct grape growing regions, 11 wineries, 22 grape growers and 400 acres of grapes – expected to grow to 1,000 acres by 2020.
Vegetable production is also important, particularly carrots and broccoli. Apples make up the majority of tree fruit production in Nova Scotia. Pears, plums, peaches and cherries are also significant.
Nova Scotia has the largest acreage of Christmas trees in Canada and is a major producer of maple products. The province ranks first in the country for mink farming, with about 40% of Canadian production. Nova Scotia greenhouses produce flowers and vegetables for local consumption, as well as for markets outside the province. Nutraceuticals, functional foods and organic products have also become important niche subsectors.
Nova Scotia’s total agri-food exports exceeded $249 million in 2007. The United States accounted for 72.5% of shipments followed by Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and China.
Trade Team Nova Scotia Representatives: the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
Industry Associations: a number of specialized organizations support the sector.
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