Horticulture Nova Scotia

In the mid 1990's Vegetables Nova Scotia and Berries Nova Scotia were two small associations each with part time staff. Both were struggling.  It was decided by the two Boards of Directors to merge the organizations. A merger committee, which also included the Potato and Processing Pea & Bean Grower’s Marketing Boards, worked to achieve the necessary protocol. At the annual meetings of each of the annual meetings in January 1998, the membership voted positively to merge.  In March1998 the new association, Horticulture Nova Scotia, was registered under the Societies Act. It also became a designated commodity group under the NS Agriculture and Marketing Act continuing the levy on the sale of strawberry plants previously administered under Berries N.S.  In January 2009, the membership voted at their annual meeting to include highbush blueberry producers and nurseries  as eligible for association membership.

Horticulture Nova Scotia provides a voice for industry. It is a membership driven, non-profit organization representing the interests the vegetable, strawberry, raspberry and nursery stock growers in Nova Scotia. Membership is voluntary.

The Association works under a Board of Directors consisting of 9 growers and industry representatives. Staff includes a full time Administrative Coordinator directly responsible to the Board and a part time bookkeeper.

We are funded in three ways: 1) through voluntary membership dues,  2) through a provincial levy on strawberry plants sold and 3) through fund raising efforts.  For those who pay a berry levy, the levy may be used as a pre-payment on voluntary membership.  In some cases this pays the membership fee but if you have not bought many plants, there may be an additional fee to pay.

Benefits of Membership
Now you are wondering “What can Hort NS do for me?”.  Here are a few ways in which we serve our members:

•    Gives you access to government programs such as the Advanced Payment Loan Program
•    Gives you access to a medical insurance program
•    Is your voice to government, industry and the public
•    Gives you strong representation on the Canadian Horticultural Council and the NS Federation of Agriculture Council
•    Provides you with results of our research projects which contribute to improving the vegetable and berry industries
•    Organizes Scotia Hort Congress and other events to provide up to date information to the industry and to provide an opportunity to network with others in your industry
•    Sends you a quarterly HORTNewS newsletter to  keep you apprised of what your association is doing 
•    Regular e-mails keep members up to date on current issues
•    Promotes our industry at fairs, exhibitions, etc.
•    Website provides information on our products with recipes, nutritional information, product availability, etc.
•    Access to the CHC On Farm Food Safety program at discounted rates
•    The Hort NS  office provides a central location for inquiries from all.

Without your support, we are unable to carry out these and other much needed initiatives. Please consider becoming a member this year.  If you have been a member, thank you. If you have not, we welcome you to call us if you have further questions before making up your mind.  A membership invoice is provided.

Marketing Boards
The NS Potato Marketing Board,  being a legislated body under the Natural Products Act of Nova Scotia, retains its independent status, including Directors and finances, and reports to the Natural Products Council

This Board holds the status of an Affiliated Group to Hort NS and is administered for an annual fee.

The NS Processing Pea & Bean Growers Marketing Board was disbanded in 2006

Last Updated February 2009