News Release Archive
AGRICULTURE/MARKETING--TRADE MISSION RESULTS IN SHIPMENT ----------------------------------------------------------------- As a result of a recent agri-food mission to the Caribbean, led by the Agriculture and Marketing Minister Guy Brown, Nova Scotia agri-food companies are already exporting produce to the region. Stirling Fruit Farms, participant on the trade mission recently shipped a 1,000 case container of apples to Barbados. "As a result of the mission, stronger contacts and relationships were established which will lead to greater trade activities and will enhance Nova Scotia's agri-food industry trade activities such as Stirling's shipment of apples to Barbados," Mr. Brown said. Ralph and Hal Stirling see this as the first of many shipments to the islands and credit the mission with helping them to further develop their markets in the Caribbean. Hal Stirling said: "Missions such as this one are essential as they allow you to meet face to face with buyers, providing the opportunity to better supply markets on a consistent basis, not on spot opportunities as in the past." The November mission, which included representatives of nine Nova Scotia businesses, made several stops in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago to pursue market opportunities there. The objective of the mission was to increase sales of Nova Scotia agri-food products, encourage joint ventures of a developmental nature and establish educational linkages for agricultural technology transfer. Many of the islands are diversifying from their traditional agricultural production base of sugar cane and bananas. This diversification process provides opportunities which are being explored by the International Centre of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Opportunities may also exist for Nova Scotia companies through joint ventures with Caribbean companies in vegetable production. Produce would be shipped to Nova Scotia during the winter months when Nova Scotia produce is no longer available. Other companies participating in the mission included: Scotian Gold, Masons, ACA/Eastern Protein, Spencer's Island Fruit and Honey, Nova-Agri Associates Ltd., Selwood Green, Tony's Meats and IMO Foods. All of the participants were encouraged by the promising contacts made on the mission. -30- Contact: Scott Hosking 902-893-6384 trp Jan. 08, 1997 - 9 a.m.