Wild Blueberry Innovation Challenge
The Department of Agriculture and the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia are working together to support innovation and find new markets for our provincial fruit – the wild blueberry.
The Wild Blueberry Innovation Challenge was launched today, Dec. 13, to support new, innovative packaging and value-added food products that use wild blueberries.
“Nova Scotia’s wild blueberry sector has tremendous growth potential so we are helping the industry explore innovation that can open new markets around the world, for both frozen and fresh food products,” said Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell. “This can bring more jobs and economic prosperity to rural communities.”
Eligible applicants to the challenge can qualify for up to $126,000, which can be used to help grow their sales, pursue new export markets and develop new products that will bring higher prices for their berries.
Successful applicants will work to commercialize their products with food scientists and technicians at Perennia, Nova Scotia’s development agency supporting sustainability and competitiveness in the province’s agriculture and seafood sectors.
Quotes:
“The province’s Wild Blueberry Innovation Challenge helps Nova Scotia food companies come up with new wild blueberry consumer products which can make our industry more sustainable in the marketplace.”
– Peter Rideout, executive director, Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia
Quick Facts:
- last month, the department announced a $280,000 investment in the Wild Blueberry Innovation Challenge program
- this is the second year of the annual Wild Blueberry Innovation Challenge
- wild blueberries are Nova Scotia’s leading agricultural export valued at $104.4 million in 2018
Additional Resources:
Information and applications are available from the Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia at: https://www.nswildblueberries.com
Eligibility requirements for the challenge and more information, visit: https://www.nswildblueberries.com/wild-blueberry-solutions-challenge
For more information about the investment in the Wild Blueberry Innovation Challenge program visit: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20191105004