It's not exactly pocket change, but for $400,000, you could own a superfood farm in Nova Scotia – and you wouldn't have to lift a finger.
A Nova Scotia farm operator says its Haskap berries are the next big thing in superfood, and the company is now looking to sell chunks of its farmland to investors from around the world.
LaHave Natural Farms is selling 10-acre tracts of farmland in Nova Scotia, on the future site of a large Haskap berry farm. Investors pay $400,000 for the land and the plants growing on it, while LaHave tills the soil, grows the plants and hires the labourers to harvest the berries.
Spokesperson Liam Tyler says LaHave Natural Farms already has 14 of a possible 20 investors lined up for the project, including backers in the United Kingdom and Bermuda.
"You'd expect a net return on your investment of about $200,000 a year," Tyler told CTV Atlantic.
He said the company's aim is to develop a sustainable business model that uses organic growing practices while relying on labourers from Nova Scotia.
The Haskap berry is relatively new to the superfood market, though it's been known to grow naturally in parts of Europe, Asia and North America. LaHave employees brought the plant to Nova Scotia from Saskatchewan in 2010, and they were surprised by how well the berry responded to its new environment.
"The plant grew extremely well in our wonderful climate," managing director Logie Cassells said.
That prompted them to invest more heavily in the future of the Haskap berry.
The Haskap berry looks like an elongated blueberry and tastes like a raspberry. Cassells says it's a popular ingredient in many jams and juices.
Each Haskap berry plant takes five years to reach maturity, at which point it yields about eight pounds of berries per year.
Tyler says his product is already sold at Sobeys stores across Atlantic Canada, and he's now fielding interest from large produce sellers like Costco and Fortinos.
With files from CTV Atlantic
