Nova Scotia spending $1.7M on greenhouses, harvesting equipment for farms

Brandon Millen, co-owner of East Coast Wild Blueberry (left), and Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow hold a container of frozen rhubarb. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

Nova Scotia is spending more than $1.7 million to help four agricultural businesses expand their production and develop new products.

The province says East Coast Wild Blueberry in Debert, Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms in Great Village, Eyking Brothers Farms in Millville and Vitis Vines in Centreville will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars to launch and grow different initiatives.

The funded projects will have to be completed by January.

East Coast Wild Blueberry will get $600,000 to establish a commercial rhubarb production, which is expected to generate roughly $7 million in additional annual sales.

“Expanding into rhubarb allows us to reach new export markets, so this investment is helping strengthen our farm for the future,” said co-owner Brandon Millen in a news release.

Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms will use $500,000 to expand its year-round greenhouse production of leafy greens with hydroponic technology.

Eyking Brothers Farms will receive $400,000 to build a modern packing and distribution facility, and advanced harvesting equipment.

Vitis Vines will get $235,000 to expand its tissue culture capacity to increase the local supply of grapevines.

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