News release

Farmers Honoured with Harvest Highway Designation

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2021)
Agriculture

Highway 101, was designated Harvest Highway today, Dec. 7, to recognize the important contributions of the farming community in Nova Scotia for centuries. The highway runs from Halifax, through the Annapolis Valley, to Yarmouth.

"Nova Scotia farmers are an important part of our rural communities," said Natural Resources Minister David Morse, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Murray Scott. "The naming of this highway calls special and deserved attention to the many farmers throughout the province and their many contributions to the landscape of the province."

Agriculture production and food processing contribute more than $900 million annually to Nova Scotia's economy. The most recent figures show that agriculture in Nova Scotia employed 2,300 people full time and 700 part time, with food processing employing more than 13,000.

"The naming of Harvest Highway serves as a reminder of the province's efforts to encourage people to support local farmers and purchase locally grown products," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment, on behalf of Brooke Taylor, Minister of Agriculture.

Richard Melvin, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture and area farmer is pleased with the designation. "Nova Scotia farmers are an important element of our rural infrastructure and having signs and recognition reminds travellers to think local first."

Harvest Highway joins other highway designations including Miners Memorial Highway, Peacekeepers Way, and Veterans Memorial Highway. In the interest of safety, the highway will continue be referred to as Highway 101 by emergency personnel.