Nova Scotia agricultural companies receive funding

Eight agricultural companies, including three in the meat industry, in Nova Scotia were awarded funding to help strengthen their infrastructure and sustainability.

John MacDonell, Nova Scotia’s Agriculture minister, says the province aims to “assist [producers and processors] as they develop their economic potential and improve competitiveness.”

“These businesses were chosen for their strong business plans and benefits for the agri-food industry as a whole.”

To date, $4.25 million has been committed from the $6 million, four-year fund.

The companies funding has been approved for include:

• Northumberlamb Cooperative Ltd./Brookside Abattoir, of Truro, Colchester Co., to enhance the Nova Scotia agriculture industry’s ability to supply high-quality, provincially inspected lamb and other meat products to existing and new markets;

• MacMaster Choice Meats, Antigonish, Antigonish Co., to develop production and processing systems that will result in increased opportunities for the Nova Scotia beef sector to respond to consumer demand for quality beef products;

• Cogmagun Poultry Processing Co. Ltd., Centre Burlington, Hants Co., to provide enhanced, value-added processing opportunities for Nova Scotia’s specialty poultry industry to capitalize on consumer demand for differentiated products;

• Foxhill Cheese House, Port Williams, Kings Co., to expand its processing capacity to respond to opportunities to produce new, specialty dairy products;

• 2M Farms Ltd., of Berwick, Kings Co. to expand the seed potato operation that will allow the Nova Scotia potato industry to expand into specialty, export markets;

• Nova Agri. Inc., Centreville, Kings Co., to support the commercialization of an innovative greenhouse technology that will provide opportunities for the Nova Scotia agriculture industry to meet increasing consumer demand for fresh horticulture products;

• Holmestead Cheese Sales Inc., of Aylesford, Kings Co., to meet growing demand for existing cheese products and to develop new product lines; and

• Eyking Brothers, Millville, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, to develop a facility that will position them to respond to new opportunities in the growing market for value-added vegetable products.