Support for wild blueberry and apple farmers in N.S.

New funding is available for some of Nova Scotia’s fruit growers.

Wild blueberry and apple farmers can now apply for up to $50,000 to buy new equipment for safer and more efficient harvesting. The provincial government says the Wild Blueberry and Apple Harvest Efficiency Program can provide up to $1.2 million over the next two years.

Among the equipment eligible for funding are apple harvest-assist platforms which eliminate the need for ladders and reduce harvest time by about 20 per cent. Front-mounted blueberry rakes and 48- or 60-inch blueberry harvester heads are also eligible. According to a release, the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board will offer financing options to help farmers purchase equipment approved by the program.

In a statement, the executive director of the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia, Peter Burgess says, “The wild blueberry industry has had a tough couple years, with increased costs and lower returns. Investing in new and more efficient equipment is part of a long-term strategy to make our farms more viable. This harvester efficiency program is one component of that strategy, for those farms that are looking to modernize and have the flexibility to do so. This program will help reduce the capital costs for farms that see these harvester upgrades as the right option for their operation.”

The province says in 2023, the agricultural sector generated $753.9 million in farm gate revenue. Wild blueberries are Nova Scotia’s largest agricultural product, generating more than $121 million in annual exports while apples generate close to $31 million in exports per year.