Nova Scotia boosts farmers markets with school voucher program

The Privateer Farmers and Artisans Market in Liverpool is participating in the $10 farmers markets voucher program announced Tuesday by the Nova Scotia government. (Privateer Farmers and Artisans Market Facebook page)

The Nova Scotia government will be helping local farmers markets attract new customers this summer.

The province announced Tuesday that it will be giving students from grades Primary to 12 a voucher that they can spend at farmers markets this summer.

The $10 coupon can be redeemed toward any locally grown, harvested or crafted product at participating farmers markets around the province.

“Farmers’ markets are community hubs that can provide wonderful learning opportunities for students,” Susan Corkum-Greek, minister of economic development, said in a release.

“These markets showcase the diversity of products produced here and emphasize the benefits of buying and supporting local, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation and improved food security.”

It’s a partnership between the government’s Nova Scotia Loyal program and Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia. It’s aimed at broadening markets’ customer base.

Nova Scotia has the most farmers markets per capita in Canada.

The $10 voucher will be distributed this month in public schools. 

Justin Cantafio, executive director of Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia, says the initiative will help educate younger consumers on the importance of food sovereignty and the local economy.

“As we know, that dollar spent locally recirculates locally,” he said in an interview.

“And every single dollar renewed through this program is going directly to small-scale owner-operated producers throughout Nova Scotia. And we also know that it’s good for helping to rebuild food soevereignty in a time when less than 15 per cent of the food that Nova Scotians consume is from Nova Scotia. It’s very exciting to work towards rebuilding that. It’s also an opportunity to help build the next generation of buy-local consumers.”

During a 2023 pilot project, about 13,000 vouchers were distributed in four school districts. Cantafio said that about 30 per cent of the vouchers in that pilot were redeemed, which he said was quite high for a program like this. He said that pilot was launched later in the year, with limited promotion. 

This year, about 131,000 students across the province will receive vouchers under the program. Cantafio points out that’s potentially a $1.3-million injection into local economies.

“If you haven’t been to a farmers market yet, or you haven’t been for a long while, it’s an incredible excuse to get out there and just celebrate what it means to live in the province that has the most farmers markets per capita in the country. We have an embarrassment of riches here and incredible producers. There are over 1,500 vendors that sell at our markets.

“We’re looking forward to a focus on local and getting connected, especially at a time when it’s never been more important to support our local producers.”

The government says Nova Scotia Loyal is meant to support local products and businesses. Officials say they will release more information on the program this summer.

There are two regular farmers markets in Queens County, in Liverpool and Caledonia. Only the Privateer Farmers and Artisans Market in Liverpool is affiliated with Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia.

To see a list of participating markets, visit the Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia website.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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