Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association

Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association has been looking after tree fruit growers in Nova Scotia since 1863. The association acts on behalf of growers, packers and processors of Nova Scotia grown fruits and helps them to anticipate and adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. To meet the needs of the constantly evolving industry, the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association has introduced their Industry Revitalization Program. "Agriculture is important in this province and needs to be supported. Things have been slipping because of huge changes in the marketplace and the world, and how the competition is growing apples. We needed to revitalize the industry." explains Dela Erith, executive director of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association.

The program keeps farmers busy, ensuring quality in their fruit production, development of new varieties of fruit, and orchard development and renewal. Erith is quick to applaud the motivated workforce in Nova Scotia. "Farmers in Nova Scotia are well educated. We have a great agricultural college here." Education can often mean increased openness and acceptance to innovation. One of the greatest challenges in the fruit growing industry, especially apples, is keeping up with the ever-changing tastes of consumers. As more international apple varieties are made available to Nova Scotians, there is less space in the local market for local produce. Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association's Industry Vitalization Program works to encourage farmers to take the risks, time, and money to plant new varieties of apples to meet the needs of their consumers in Nova Scotia. The encouragement and support from an organization so committed to the fruit growing industry is needed to keep this historical aspect of Nova Scotia's economy flourishing for years to come.

The Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association is certainly not lacking in innovation -- one of the keys to success in the modern business world. It uses its Industry Vitalization Program to ensure the well-being of the industry for other aspects of the future. The association has used science to come up with some innovative ideas about the parts of an apple and their possible medicinal uses. "We're not just talking about eating the fresh fruit, we're talking about what else we can do with that apple. Scientific research is a big component of making this industry work properly. Through scientific research we know the apple skin has a lot of anti-oxidants and flavonoids in it; very important for your health. We want to use those things to create other products so people can get the benefit of all the nutrients."

The association is also looking to develop more marketing strategies to reach a wide variety of consumers, and new methods to commercialize their products, especially the new apple varieties in the works. "With the Industry Vitalization Program we aim to balance what we are doing today with how we are going to move into the future" says Erith. Nova Scotia exports apples all over Canada, England and parts of the Caribbean. When it comes to international exporting, Erith says the Halifax port is an incredible asset. Before coming to Nova Scotia Erith gained some work experience in other parts of Canada and she speaks very highly of her current location. "The advantage to Nova Scotia isn't just that you can easily balance work and play. It is the quality of people that you meet in your work life," she says. Erith says it is important for Nova Scotian businesses to find a way to stand out in the world market.

"We need to identify ourselves. We need to be a part of the Canadian focus but also be a little bit different. We need to talk about ourselves a little bit more.”