13 www.SmallFarmCanada.ca flavour that can’t be achieved in a single blueberry variety. 95 per cent of wild blueberries from Nova Scotia’s 630 growers, go for processing and Nova Scotia is also home to the world’s biggest wild blueberry processor! NS FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE Despite their vital role in Nova Scotia, farms have been struggling. The last time farms in Nova Scotia collectively posted a positive net income was 2016 and losses in 2023 totalled almost $44 million. Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada that has had this challenge persist for so long. “With a recent election and the government setting its mandate for the next four years, a strong vision for agriculture and agri-food is essential. As Minister Morrow returns to Agriculture, we as an industry are ready to hit the ground running and collaborate on meaningful solutions.” - Carolyn Van Den Heuvel, Executive Director PERENNIA Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation is a provincial development agency with the mission to support growth, transformation and economic development in Nova Scotia’s agriculture, seafood, and food and beverage sectors. They have a wide variety of resources to advance projects and provide assistance from people to publications, fact sheets and videos, labs and a commercial pilot plant. SAFFRON The reason for its high price tag is due to its nature, it is strictly harvested by hand. It also takes about 1,000 flowers to harvest just one ounce of saffron. The saffron threads are derived from the stamens of Crocus sativus, A.K.A. the “saffron crocus”. Native to the Middle East and Asia and also grown organically by Coastal Grove Farm in Shelburne County. MARITIME OX PULLING Oxen may be a rare sight in Canada now, but they still have deep roots in Nova Scotia at Ross Farm and where many exhibitions still feature ox-pull competitions. According to the Small Farmer’s Journal, competitions are one reason the working cattle numbers are on the increase. COOPERING Coopering has kind of a tawdry past including the practice of transferring goods from one vessel to another at sea, often by those engaged in smuggling. Although it is now often related to the carrying of goods in barrels or casks, and the making of them. It is an old trade that is being resurrected by craft distilleries (12 craft distillers in N.S.), gardeners and handicraft aficionados alike. One that has been on waterfront in Shelburne for generations. HASKAPS – THE BLUEBERRY THAT WENT TOO FAR? I was confused while passing an old hay field on the South Shore when I was told it had been planted to haskap berries. Do they grow under the same conditions as wild blueberries? It made me wonder… and the answer is no. The big difference between the two is their growing requirements. Blueberries need acidic soil and haskaps will grow just about anywhere making it a backyard favourite. DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY | PERENNIA | ROSS FARM | JULIE HARLOW | KOLESNIKOVSERG - ADOBE STOCK FB MARITIME OX PULLING GROUP ROSS FARM LAHAVE RIVER BERRY FARM COASTAL GROVE FARM SHELBURNE BARREL FACTORY WATCH AN OX PULL HERE! WATCH THIS OLD BRITISH PATHĖ FILM ABOUT COOPERING!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQyMDk=