More students to receive farmers’ market vouchers under Nova Scotia Loyal program

Nova Scotia students will be given $10 vouchers as incentives to buy local goods.

The province of Nova Scotia says it is handing out vouchers to more students so they can discover local products at farmers’ markets.

Students from pre-primary to Grade 12, as well as post-secondary students and new Nova Scotians, will receive the $10 vouchers under the expanded Nova Scotia Loyal program.

Public school and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey students, as well as clients of the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) and YREACH Settlement and Language Support, will receive their vouchers this month.

“This initiative not only introduces newcomers to the welcoming farmers’ market community but also encourages the valuable practice of supporting local producers. By connecting newcomers with locally produced goods and the people who make them, we are helping to build a strong sense of belonging while supporting the growth of Nova Scotia’s local economy,” said Paula Knight, ISANS CEO, in a provincial news release.

Students at publicly-funded post-secondary institutions will receive their vouchers in the fall.

The Nova Scotia Loyal program first launched last summer. It initially started with public school students and expanded in the fall to students, faculty and staff at Acadia University in Wolfville and Nova Scotia Community College’s Kingstec Campus in Kentville.

The province says it decided to expand the program after receiving positive feedback from families and farmers’ market vendors.

“Our farmers’ markets have something for everyone. This program encourages Nova Scotians who may not otherwise visit a farmers’ market to do so, to discover all our markets have to offer and learn about the value in shopping local,” said Minister of Growth and Development Colton LeBlanc.

The owner of one local farm says the program has made a “huge impact” on its business.

“We have been able to increase sales and have had the opportunity to meet wonderful members of our community, many of them for the first time,” said James Twaddell, owner of What on Earth Farms in Canning.

The vouchers can be redeemed toward any locally-grown, harvested or crafted product at participating farmers’ markets in Nova Scotia until Dec. 31.

The province estimates about 215,500 students and new Nova Scotians will receive vouchers under the program this year.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page