To Contact Us:

Donna Crawford, Administrative Coordinator
Blair House,
Kentville Agricultural Centre
32 Main St., Kentville, NS  B4N 1J5

Phone: 902-678-9335                                                   Member Benefits
Fax: 902-678-1280                                                       2010 Membership Form
e-mail: hortns@ns.sympatico.ca

Mission Statement

 "To enhance collaborative efforts among members which will strengthen and provide leadership to the horticultural industry." 

History and Mandate

Horticulture Nova Scotia was formed in 1998 by the merger of Vegetables Nova Scotia and Berries Nova Scotia, and the affiliation of the Nova Scotia Potato Marketing Board and the Processing Pea and Bean Growers Marketing Board of Nova Scotia. It is a designated commodity group under the Agriculture and Marketing Act of Nova Scotia and is a not-for-profit association incorporated under the Registry of Joint Stock in March 1998. Since its inception, Horticulture Nova Scotia has made it policy to work with other horticultural interest groups, wherever possible, to further the needs and interests of the horticultural industry. In 2009 highbush blueberries were added to the commodities covered by the Association. 

Structure

Horticulture Nova Scotia is a non-profit, non-unionized agricultural commodity group representing the interests of Nova Scotia commercial vegetable, strawberry, raspberry, bramble, and nursery stock producers associated with those crops. Membership is open to anyone interested in the horticultural industry.There are three categories of members: Growers, Business and Associate.  Standing Committees are in place for all of the objectives stated in the by-laws, and ad hoc committees for other relevant issues. All are answerable to the Board of Directors comprised of nine grower representatives. Other horticulture commodities or organizations may become part of the association on being approved by the membership at an annual meeting. 

Mark Sawler - President
Jeff Allen - First Vice President 
Lisa Jenereaux - Second Vice President
Robert Ansems - Treasurer
Andy Vermeulen - Director at Large
Luke den Haan  - Director at Large
John Swan - Director at Large 
Glenn Higbee - Director at Large
Jackson Loré - Director at Large

Horticulture Nova Scotia Objectives as per the Memorandum of Understanding

• Information dissemination: To develop and produce a system suitable for communicating timely information to the membership. To develop a repository of information suitable to advise membership of important issues;
• Marketing and special promotions: To develop an integrated marketing strategy which shall  promote the advancement of the horticultural industry and development of new markets.  To identify and develop special product promotions as required;
• Liason with government and other organizations: To liaise, promote unity and cooperation with  agricultural groups, government agencies, and other organizations, to represent the interests of the organization and its members and to encourage such legislation as may be advantageous and discourage such legislation which may be detrimental to the horticultural industry;
• Research: To promote unity and cooperation with the research community and to facilitate the identification of research priorities and specifically directed research designed to benefit the horticultural industry;
• Education & Awareness: To upgrade the level of awareness of horticulture, its needs and its issues by facilitating producer upgrading and consumer awareness and by disseminating such information to all levels of government and other stakeholders as is necessary for them to make educated decisions on issues pertaining to horticulture;
• Annual Conference: To organize, promote and deliver an annual conference to encourage unity, provide information and promote communications between membership and others interested in the horticultural industry. An annual meeting of the membership may be included in the conference agenda or held separately as decided by the Board of Directors.

Affiliated Groups: 

Board of Directors - 2010 for the Nova Scotia Potato Marketing Board