Ottawa announces $1.5M to help sell wild blueberries
Ottawa announces $1.5M to help sell wild blueberries
Canada's federal government will spend as much as $1.5 million over two years to help develop international markets for the country's wild blueberries.
The money will be given to the Canadian component of the New Brunswick-based Wild Blueberry Association of North America, which represents growers and processors from Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The association acts as a promotional arm for the industry.
Neri Vautour, executive director of the association, said that if WBANA Canada spends $1.5 million on promotions, the Canadian government would provide matching funds. Ninety-five percent of the wild blueberry crop -- both in Canada and with WBANA U.S. in Maine -- is individually quick frozen, Mr. Vautour said.
The association touts wild blueberries as having more disease- fighting antioxidants than most other fruits, including cultivated blueberries.
"The common goal is to sell more blueberries," Mr. Vautour said. Its efforts - including research on the health benefits of eating wild blueberries - have "really stimulated sales for cultivated blueberries as well," Mr. Vautour said.
Nova Scotia produces more wild blueberries than any other Canadian province, exporting more than $80 million worth in 2005. Canada exports blueberries to 25 markets, with total 2005 shipments worth more than $154 million.
Mr. Vautour said that while the state of Maine had formerly outproduce the combined production of Quebec and Atlantic Canada, that has changed in recent years. For the roughly seven- week harvest that began in mid-July and will run at least through August, Canada will harvest perhaps 130 million pounds of wild blueberries; Maine will harvest 85 million to 90 million pounds, Mr. Vautour said.
The money will be given to the Canadian component of the New Brunswick-based Wild Blueberry Association of North America, which represents growers and processors from Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The association acts as a promotional arm for the industry.
Neri Vautour, executive director of the association, said that if WBANA Canada spends $1.5 million on promotions, the Canadian government would provide matching funds. Ninety-five percent of the wild blueberry crop -- both in Canada and with WBANA U.S. in Maine -- is individually quick frozen, Mr. Vautour said.
The association touts wild blueberries as having more disease- fighting antioxidants than most other fruits, including cultivated blueberries.
"The common goal is to sell more blueberries," Mr. Vautour said. Its efforts - including research on the health benefits of eating wild blueberries - have "really stimulated sales for cultivated blueberries as well," Mr. Vautour said.
Nova Scotia produces more wild blueberries than any other Canadian province, exporting more than $80 million worth in 2005. Canada exports blueberries to 25 markets, with total 2005 shipments worth more than $154 million.
Mr. Vautour said that while the state of Maine had formerly outproduce the combined production of Quebec and Atlantic Canada, that has changed in recent years. For the roughly seven- week harvest that began in mid-July and will run at least through August, Canada will harvest perhaps 130 million pounds of wild blueberries; Maine will harvest 85 million to 90 million pounds, Mr. Vautour said.
