Organic Industry Prosperous in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia's emerging organic food industry will get a $60,000 boost from the province.

Gordon Balser, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, has announced that the department has pledged $20,000 per year for the next three years through the Agri Food Industry Development Fund to continue support of the Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN), located in Kennetcook.

"Nova Scotia has a wide range of certified organic products, from herbs and vegetables to livestock," said Mr. Balser. "To date we have approximately 48 organic growers in Nova Scotia."

ACORN is an initiative helping to build and promote the organic food industry in Atlantic Canada. Organic food refers to food grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, hormones, irradiation, or genetic engineering. The only way consumers can ensure they are getting this kind of food is to choose products that are labelled "certified organic."

Jennifer Melanson, executive director of ACORN, applauds Nova Scotia's commitment to organic agriculture and the degree of co- operation between Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. "With funding in place from Nova Scotia and the other Maritime provinces, ACORN is able to continue its work in enhancing the viability and growth of the Atlantic Canadian organic agricultural community through a unified regional network."

For more information on the organic food industry in Atlantic Canada see the Web site at www.acornorganic.org .