Apple Issues Addressed at Provincial Meeting

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Apple Issues Addressed at Provincial Meeting

Representatives of the apple industry from Eastern Canada and the United States have agreed to strengthen their collaborative efforts at marketing, research and technical services to help improve the competitiveness of the Northeastern apple industry.

In the last decade Eastern apple growing regions as a whole have lost market share and faced increased external competition from Washington State, China and other offshore suppliers is expected to intensify. The recent meeting of concerned participants was arranged by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont and New York commissioner of agriculture Nathan Rudgers.

"I am pleased with the outcomes of our meetings," said Mr. d'Entremont, following last week's meeting in Greenwich, N.S. "All Eastern regions are facing similar issues and to come together and share ideas and strategies to strengthen our industry is vital to our success."

The meetings were well attended and included representatives from the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, and the New York Horticultural Society.
Government officials from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Maine, New York, New Hampshire and Vermont were also present.

Mr. d'Entremont said the success and spirit of the meetings owed much to the participation of Annapolis Valley growers and other local industry people who contributed at the formal meeting, hosted group visits and participated in other ways. The Northeast Apple Working group is part of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord. The next meeting is set for March 2005.