Nova Scotia Loyal Pilot Expands in Annapolis Valley
A selection of gourds at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market. (Communications Nova Scotia / File)
Post-secondary students, faculty and staff at Acadia University and Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec campus will receive farmers’ market vouchers under a new Nova Scotia Loyal pilot that builds on the success of an earlier program for public school children.
The pilot, in partnership with these two campuses, will see $10 vouchers distributed to students, faculty and staff to redeem – the Acadia vouchers at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market and Kingstec vouchers at both the Wolfville and Kentville farmers’ markets.
“This will build on the growing interest in buying local. This partnership with Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia is encouraging new visitors to local farmers’ markets and creating loyal, returning customers,” said Economic Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek. “This isn’t your typical buy local program – it’s about providing a variety of ways to help make it easier for Nova Scotians to identify and choose to buy local more often, wherever they shop, and support our producers.”
In June, a partnership with Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia provided over 135,000 provincial public school, home-schooled and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey students a $10 voucher to shop for local products at participating farmers’ market locations. To date, 40 per cent of vouchers redeemed are first-time visitors to a local farmers’ market.
The Province has also extended the 10 per cent instant cash incentive for online farmers’ markets to March 31, 2025. This includes Wolfville Farmers’ Market 2 Go, Prospect Communities Farmers’ Market and the Cape Breton Food Hub.
Nova Scotia Loyal is an economic development program promoting local growers, harvesters, crafters and manufacturers to create a steady demand for local products so Nova Scotia businesses can grow and thrive.
Quotes:
“Farmers’ markets are the backbone of the local economy, not only creating a place where only local products are sold, but also where local farm and maker businesses are incubated. The way to grow more local is by building relationships like the ones we have with our post-secondary institutions. The fact that Nova Scotia Loyal contributes an incentive for our partners in community to purchase at our farmers’ market strengthens our local economy, by strengthening our community connection. We are grateful.”
— Kelly Marie Redcliffe, Executive Director, Wolfville Farmers’ Market
“This collaboration isn't just about food and local goods – it's about nourishing people, our local economy and community. It's about creating a space where students can learn, where local businesses can thrive, and where we all can come together to support one another, while ensuring access to fresh and healthy local food. When we invest in our students and our communities, we invest in our future.”
— Ashlee Cunsolo, Provost and Vice-President Academic, Acadia University*
“I can’t think of a better area than the Annapolis Valley to pilot this post-secondary voucher initiative. Our Kingstec culinary faculty are strong supporters and foster in their classrooms the message of focusing on local foods – but it’s such an important practice in general. This voucher for students and employees at Kingstec and Acadia will be a great way to encourage everyone to explore the many quality products and exceptional produce available locally.”
— Jason Clark, Principal, Kingstec campus, Nova Scotia Community College
Quick Facts:
- the budget for Nova Scotia Loyal for 2024-25 is $6 million; the program officially launched in July
- the school voucher program was piloted in June 2023 with four school districts and was expanded to include all provincial public school, home-schooled and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey students
- school vouchers are redeemable until December 31; post-secondary pilot vouchers are redeemable until February 28, 2025
- a new government procurement policy supports local businesses in all sectors competing for government contracts
- implementing and supporting the Nova Scotia Loyal program is in the mandate of the ministers of Economic Development; Agriculture; Finance and Treasury Board; Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Additional Resources:
Nova Scotia Loyal: https://nsloyal.ca/
Ministerial mandate letters: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters.html