2025 Annual Convention: Managing Highs and Lows

Registration is open for the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association 2025 Annual Convention!

The full event agenda will be released soon. Make sure you register early to take advantage of the early bird discount rates!

Click here for the Participant Registration Form

Click here for the Sponsorship Package

Click here for the Tradeshow Package and Registration

Downloadable version of the DRAFT Agenda

Our Office Has Moved

While we were very sad to say goodbye to our home in Blair House, with a resident ghost and decades of agricultural history and memories, a directive from AAFC meant we needed to move before the end of the year 2024.

You can now find the offices of the Executive Director and Financial Officer on the first floor of the main building of the Kentville Research and Development Centre (former Perennia space). We are lucky to have the kind and friendly staff at Commissionaires available to help direct you to find us in offices 146 and 148. Please understand that we are moving our phone and internet and may experience communication disruptions during this time. Please email contact@nsfruitgrowers.ca if you are having any trouble.

2024 Summer Orchard Tour: August 7th

2024 Summer Orchard Tour: August 7th

The 2024 NSFGA Summer Orchard tour will be held on Wednesday, August 7th, 2024. We will begin and end the tour at the Noggins Corner Farm Corn Maze Entrance. Coffee and doughnuts start at 7:30am! The tour will run from 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Registration is not required to attend the orchard tour. Seats on the bus are first come, first serve. You are welcome to follow the bus in a vehicle, however carpooling is encouraged.

This year we are bringing back the BBQ Chicken Dinner following the tour! Bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening of socializing and delicious food, sponsored by NM Bartlett and AgroFresh. Registration for the BBQ dinner is encouraged and the event is free of charge! There is a playground at Noggins for children and there will hot dogs and kid-friendly snacks provided.

Download the PDF of the full schedule here.

NSFGA Spring Workshop: March 26 & 27, 2024

The dates of the Spring Workshop have been set as Tuesday March 26th and Wednesday March 27th, 2024.

Tuesday March 26th, 2024: Classroom workshop (morning only)

Wednesday March 27th, 2024: Hands-on pruning demonstration in an orchard (morning only)

Register Today for Annual Convention

Registration has opened for the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association 2024 Annual Convention!

The theme is “Growing Smarter” and a draft agenda is below.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please return completed forms to contact@nsfruitgrowers.ca

Click here for tradeshow information

Click here for sponsorship information package

Click here for a sponsorship form

Annual Convention Agenda

Tuesday January 23rd, 2024
Location: Old Orchard Inn, Greenwich, Nova Scotia

Joint Session with Nova Scotia Horticulture Congress

3:00pm F.A.R.M.S. update Speaker: Carrie Raymond-Gardner, Program Manager

3:30pm Panel Discussion on Training

Farm Safety NS – Jamie O’Kane
NSCC – Gerard d’Entremont
Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency – Christian Maguire

4:30pm Break

President’s Reception

6:00pm President’s Welcome and Remarks from Dignitaries

6:30pm Opening Keynote Address: Srdjan Acimovic, Virginia Tech
Low visibility, high impact science: Wait, what do you mean by plant pathologist?

7:00pm Presentation of Golden Apple Award and NSFGA Honourary Membership

7:30pm Bar opens and hors d’oeuvres
Music with local favourite Freddy Mujica

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Agenda for Wednesday, January 24th, 2024

Location: Old Orchard Inn, Greenwich, Nova Scotia

7:15am Registration desk opens & morning refreshments

7:45am Welcome and breakfast in Old Orchard Inn Restaurant
Come meet and mingle with friends over coffee and breakfast.

9:00am – 9:15pm Greetings and President’s Address
Speaker: NSFGA President Janet Chappel, CAP Farms

9:15am – 9:45am Fire Blight Refreshers and Blossom Blight Biology
Speaker Michelle Cortens, Tree Fruit Specialist, Perennia

9:45am - 10:30am Industry Updates

Nova Scotia Crop and Livestock Insurance Commission: Nicholas Bell, Director of NSCLIC
Apple Valley Pies: Darren O’Rourke, Director of Operations
Apple Maggot Inspection Program: Sawyer Olmstead, Plant Protection Coordinator
PMRA Apple Pilot Project: Shuhua Lui and Stephen Goodacre, Value and Re-evaluation
Directorate, Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Nova Scotia Cider Association: Janice Ruddock, SimpliCanada

10:30am - 11:00am Refreshment Break & Tradeshow Viewing

11:00am – 11:45am Speaker Session: Growing Modern Organic
Speaker: Kyle Rasch, Director of Third Leaf Farm, Greenville, Michigan

11:45am – 12:15pm Overview of Canadian and Global Apple Market Trends: Nova Scotia’s Position
Speaker: Farid Makki, Sector Specialist, AAFC

12:15pm – 1:15pm Lunch & Tradeshow Viewing

1:15pm – 1:45pm Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Update
Speaker: Amy Melmock, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture

1:45pm – 2:45pm Keynote Speaker: Srdjan Acimovic, Virginia Tech
Something is rotten in the state of climate: Stop apple scab in spring but do not let fruit
rots have the last word

2:45pm – 3:15pm Refreshment Break & Tradeshow Viewing

3:15pm – 4:00pm Packer Conversation Panel
Topic: Marketing, Challenges, and Opportunities
Moderator: Michelle Crosby, Marketing Manager, NS Department of Agriculture
Panelists: Panelists: Carolyn Cameron (Noggins), Dennis MacPherson (Scotian Gold),
Michael Van Meekeren (Give Them a Wink)

4:00pm - 4:30pm Speaker Session: Measuring Cost of Production in Ontario
Speakers: Larissa Osborne (Ontario Tender Fruit) and Erika DeBrouwer (Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs)

Nova Scotia Kitchen Party
Location: The Church Brewing Company, 329 Main Street, Wolfville
*ticket required

5:00pm Doors open

6:00pm Food served (includes appetizers, wide selection of mains, and dessert)

7:00pm Live music with The MelBerns

——————————————————————————————————————-

Agenda for Thursday January 25th, 2024
Location: Old Orchard Inn, Greenwich, Nova Scotia

8:30am – 9:00am Coffee and Refreshments

9:00am – 9:30am Perennia Extension Services Update
Lynne Godlien, CEO, Perennia

9:30am – 10:30am Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association Annual General Meeting
Quorum: 15 Members

10:30am – 10:45am Refreshment Break

10:45am - 11:00am An Economic Impact Assessment for the Nova Scotia Tree Fruit Industry
Speakers: Jenna Evans and Rosalynd Mitchell, Stiletto Consulting

11:00am - 12:30pm Research Updates:
Greetings from Deb Moreau, Acting Associate Director, Research, Development and
Technology

Harrison Wright : The use of Anti-Ethylene Products Harvista™ and ReTain® on
Bicoloured Apples: ‘Ambrosia’ and ‘Honeycrisp

Shawkat Ali: Salicylic acid and fungicides as an integrated approach for management
of apple summer diseases

Katrin Sommerfeld, Acadia University: Updates and Collaborating with Acadia Research

Brennan Gillis, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture: Research Update from Dalhousie

2024 Annual Convention Dates: Growing Smarter

The dates for the NSFGA Annual Convention have been set as January 23rd, 24th, and 25th 2024. The theme is  “Growing Smarter”.

A full schedule will follow, but the general outline of the event will be:

Tuesday January 23rd: 

Afternoon Trade Show
Joint Session with Horticulture Nova Scotia
Keynote Speech
Golden Apple Award/Honourary Membership Presentation
President’s Reception

Wednesday January 24th

Trade Show
Educational Sessions, Presentations, and Keynotes
Nova Scotia Kitchen Party at Church Brewing

Thursday January 25th

NSFGA Annual General Meeting
Research Updates
Industry Updates
End at 12:00pm.

Orchard Tour: Rain or Shine!

The NSFGA Summer Orchard Tour is going ahead as planned! We will assess the forecast as the day progresses and are hopeful for an awesome day with a delicious lunch and networking with friends old and new. 

AUGUST 9TH 2023

8:00am:  Kentville Research Station
32 Main Street, Kentville NS, IN THE ORCHARD ROOM (formerly the Cornwallis Room)
Meet for coffee and parking at AAFC
Hear from several research scientists about current projects.

8:55am load bus
Bus commute – 20 Minutes

9:15am CAP Farms
5677 Brooklyn Street, Grafton (orchard driveway east of the house)
Main Topics: NS ACS Living Laboratory for orchard floor management, equipment showcase

10:00am load bus
Bus commute – 40 minutes

10:45am  High Point Orchards
Driveway past Church at 10273 Highway 1 on north side of the road, Paradise
Main topics:  3-row sprayer, training systems (baler twine support), planting large acreage in a single year

11:30 load bus
Bus commute- 25 minutes

12:00pm Kingston Fire Hall, 570 Sparky Street, Kingston
Lunch: Sandwiches and serve yourself soup by the Kingston Firefighters Auxillary
Cider provided by SaltBox Cider and Wild Cider and Wines

1:15 load bus
Bus commute- 11 minutes

1:30pm Les Goossen Farm (two locations)
3069 Brooklyn Street, Aylesford
*Coffee and tea at this stop provided by Eastern Manufacturing and Tidal Tractor

Stop 1: Equipment showcase, Premier Honeycrisp (main location)
Stop 2: Nursery production (several properties east of the main location on north side of Brooklyn Street)

2:30 load bus from nursery site
Bus commute- 5 minutes

2:40pm Northridge Farms
2546 Highway 221, Aylesford (farm driveway east of the buildings)

Main Topics: re-planting incorporation of compost into soil, finger weeder, side slinger amendment applicator

3:30pm load bus
Bus commute- 25 mins

3:55pm Return to Research Station

Main Topic: Field trial: Clean technologies and rootstocks for control of replant disease

4:30 Tour ends

2023 Orchard Tour Schedule

This year we are asking those planning to take the bus to register so we can ensure there is enough room for all interested: Register for the bus by clicking here!

AUGUST 9TH 2023

8:00am:  Kentville Research Station
32 Main Street, Kentville NS, by the picnic grounds.
Meet for coffee and parking at AAFC
Hear from several research scientists about current projects.

8:55am load bus
Bus commute – 20 Minutes

9:15am CAP Farms
5677 Brooklyn Street, Grafton (orchard driveway east of the house)
Main Topics: NS ACS Living Laboratory for orchard floor management, equipment showcase

10:00am load bus
Bus commute – 40 minutes

10:45am  High Point Orchards
Driveway past Church at 10273 Highway 1 on north side of the road, Paradise
Main topics:  3-row sprayer, training systems (baler twine support), planting large acreage in a single year

11:30 load bus
Bus commute- 25 minutes

12:00pm Kingston Fire Hall, 570 Sparky Street, Kingston
Lunch: Sandwiches and serve yourself soup by the Kingston Firefighters Auxillary
Cider provided by SaltBox Cider and Wild Cider and Wines

1:15 load bus
Bus commute- 11 minutes

1:30pm Les Goossen Farm (two locations)
3069 Brooklyn Street, Aylesford
*Coffee and tea at this stop provided by Eastern Manufacturing and Tidal Tractor

Stop 1: Equipment showcase, Premier Honeycrisp (main location)
Stop 2: Nursery production (several properties east of the main location on north side of Brooklyn Street)

2:30 load bus from nursery site
Bus commute- 5 minutes

2:40pm Northridge Farms
2546 Highway 221, Aylesford (farm driveway east of the buildings)

Main Topics: re-planting incorporation of compost into soil, finger weeder, side slinger amendment applicator

3:30pm load bus
Bus commute- 25 mins

3:55pm Return to Research Station

Main Topic: Field trial: Clean technologies and rootstocks for control of replant disease

4:30 Tour ends

2023 Apple Blossom Festival Bloom Tours

You are invited to attend one of three NSFGA sponsored Bloom Walks happening during the 2023 Apple Blossom Festival.

Wednesday May 24th. 2:00pm
Bramble Corner Farm, Aylesford

Thursday May 25th, 2:00pm
Lutz Family Farm, Rockland

Friday May 26th, 2:00pm
Blue Ridge Farm, Aylesford

Register at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_GUkfKYF8eU_xZ3xCzffd-ifC1Mpvpwc9BII6spyJWM/edit

Once registered you will receive an email with further details. There is no cost to attend.

Save the Date: Summer Orchard Tour

August 9th, 2023, has been chosen as the date of this summer’s NSFGA Orchard Tour. More details and a full schedule will be released as confirmed. We currently are planning for a full-day tour with bus and catered lunch.

Mark your calendars!

Spring Workshop: March 28 & 29

March 28th: Waterville Fire Hall
9:00am – 12:00pm

9:00am  Industry updates: freeze update, funding relief, IFTA Summer Tour update
9:15am   Clean Tech Solutions for Replant: Keith Fuller
10:00am  Break
10:15- 10:30am  Michelle Cortens: Managing with Mancozeb: Our local perspective  
10:30 – 12:00am  Manzate Panel: Audience participation requested

March 29th: Pruning Workshop
CAP Farms, Grafton (Driveway SOUTH of #127 Coleman Road)
9:00am-10:30am

Click here to register to attend the March 28 session via Zoom

*There is no registration required to attend the Spring Workshop in-person.
*The pruning workshop on March 29th will not be livestreamed or available virtually.

International Women’s Day Event March 8th

February is Apple Month!

We are celebrating Apple Month this February!

Visit buynsapples.com for more information about Apple Month!

2023 NSFGA Annual Convention: Registration Open

The Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association is pleased to announce the agenda for the upcoming 2023 Annual Convention. This year we are coming together on January 24th and 25th at the Old Orchard Inn in Greenwich, followed by January 26th at the Waterville Fire Hall.

Download registration form here

OR

Fill out registration online here

Please return completed forms by email to contact@nsapples.com. Payment details are outlined on registration form.

To view the agenda please click here

2023 Annual Convention: Nova Scotia Leads the Way

The 2023 Annual Convention of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association will be held on January 24th, 25th, and 26th of 2023 at the Old Orchard Inn.

The 2023 Annual Convention aims to focus on the positive at a time when we are inundated with negative news and stressful world events. Our convention will focus on the ways Nova Scotia has demonstrated leadership in the apple industry, whether through being quick to adopt new technology and plant new varieties, or to topping the charts when it comes to exports of apples in Canada. Stay tuned for agenda and registration information!

2022-09-26 Press Release: Harvest Post-Fiona

PRESS RELEASE

UPDATE ON 2022 APPLE HARVEST IN NOVA SCOTIA POST-FIONA

For immediate release by the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association
Kentville, NS
September 26 2022

In the aftermath of post-tropical storm Fiona, the general sense among most Nova Scotia apple farmers is “cautious relief” after the storm tore through Atlantic Canada over the weekend. The Annapolis Valley was spared the worst of the storm as it battered the more northeastern parts of the province. With a good growing season thus far and a heavy crop load on the trees, some farmers were out before the storm picking mature fruit from the tops of the trees to prevent breakage. High winds and heavy rains did knock some apples to the ground and growers have been assessing for bruising of the crop on the trees. Trellis systems were put to the test with some growers reporting some failures and downed trees, but not to the extent that was expected. Fireblight was a main concern and protective measures were taken by many in the hours after the storm passed. Many farm nurseries were also impacted and some breakage is being reported. 

Perennia Tree Fruit Specialist Michelle Cortens has been on the ground examining the orchards. She states, “I have started visiting farms to assess the impact on our industry. Amidst some crop loss and structural damage I’m still pleased to see good fruit on the trees and harvest ongoing. Even after a string of years with difficult growing conditions your optimism is clear. Please give me a call if you have questions or comments and I’ll continue to make my way around farms.”  

Those who lost power took extra care to ensure any employees living in on-farm housing were comfortable and well-supplied, but outages were not as widespread in this area of the province as others. Overall many in the industry are feeling grateful that things weren’t worse and are watching the ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts happening in other areas of the province while they continue harvesting what is still expected to be a fairly good crop this year.  

For any inquiries please reach out to Emily Lutz, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association at 902-300-1776 or 902-698-2290. 

A huge thank you to our 2022 Orchard Tour Sponsors!

The NSFGA Orchard Tour would not be possible without our incredible supporters. We are so grateful for the support you have given us, which allowed us to return to our in-person event with a bang.

THANK YOU!

Diamond
Bishop and Company
Corteva Agriscience Canada Company
Eastern Manufacturing and Design Inc.
FCC- Farm Credit Canada
NM Bartlett
Scotiabank
Scotian Gold Cooperative Ltd.
Tidal Tractor
Truro Agromart
Upper Canada Growers Ltd.
Van Brenk's Nursery Ltd.
Van Meekeren Farms Ltd.

Gold
Green Diamond Equipment
Ledge Rock Construction Ltd.
Ocean Crisp Apple Company
Provide Agro Corporation
Paul Lannan - RBC Dominion Securities

Silver
BASF via Blair Fraser
Bayer CropScience Inc.
Central Equipment
Eastern Drainage Ltd
Grindstone Creek Nursery Inc.
Nova International Ltd.
NS Crop and Livestock Insurance Commission
ProduceTech
TD Agriculture

Bronze
Adams County Nursery
Cavendish Agri Services
Evans Manufacturing Company
Nova Scotia Farm Load Board
Perennia
Great Valley Juice
Efficiency NS

Summer Orchard Tour Schedule: August 11th, 2022

Mark your calendars!

August 11th 2022 has been selected as the date for the 2022 Summer Orchard Tour. The Orchard Tour will begin at Miner's Marsh in Kentville at 87 Cornwallis Street (behind the Justice Building). There will be ample parking for those wanting to take the bus. We are asking folks to arrive at 8:15AM for introductions and greetings. Buses will be boarded at 9:00AM sharp! There will be five different orchard stops, with lunch along the way at Northville Farm Heritage Centre.

Please register at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18i8xx-DJHNK2v_EsxAf4KbEfhZjni0i8VBSpIlhLPUc/edit

Schedule
*Please note some of these times are subject to change as we finalize travel and presentation times

8:15 Meet at Miners Marsh, 87 Cornwallis Street, Kentville (behind Justice Building)

8:30 Introductions and Greetings

9:00 Bus departs 

9:30 Sarsfield's Farms: Equipment use including leaf blower, hedger, and platforms
                   779 North Medford Road, first driveway past the house on the same side

10:15-10:30 Bus to Power Farms

10:30-11:00 Power Farms: Harvest Management
                  581 North Medford Road, Canning, in the block across the road from the house 

11:00-11:30 Bus to Van Meekeren Farms

11:30-12:15 Van Meekeren Farms: Thinning Gala for for size and fumigation trial (2    
                  separate stop locations on this farm)
237 Thorpe Road, Lakeville

12:15-12:30 Bus to Northville Farm Heritage Centre

12:30-1:30 Lunch at Northville Farm Heritage Centre
                     1158 Steadman Road, Centreville

1:30-1:45 Bus to Stirling Mountainside Farms

1:45-2:30 Stirling Mountainside Farms: Responses to pruning on Honeycrisp and           
                  Ambrosia, finger weeder equipment
                  261 Bains Road, Centreville

2:30-2:50 Bus to Noggins 

2:50-3:45 Noggins Corner Farm: Stone fruit and farm market operation tour
                 10009 Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Greenwich
                (orchard road across from Irving on south side of Hwy 1)

3:45-4:00 Bus to Miner’s Marsh 

4:00 Return to Miner’s Marsh, 87 Cornwallis Street, Kentville

Celebrate Apple Blossom with us!

The Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association is proud to play an active role in the Apple Blossom Festival in its 88th year. We are putting a Blosi Orchard Platform as a float in the Grand Street Parade, and doing an "Apple Drop Giveaway" at the "Carnival for Kids" on Saturday May 28th from 11:00AM- 1:00PM to raise money for the Farm-to-School Snack Program here in the Annapolis Valley.

We are also hosting three "Orchard Bloom Walks" to celebrate in conjunction with the Apple Blossom Festival.

May 25th, 2:00pm: Noggins Corner Farm (Greenwich)
May 26th, 2:00pm: Lutz Family Farm (Rockland)
May 27th, 2:00pm: Willowbank U-Pick Farm (Port Williams)

Email contact@nsapples.com or call/text 902-698-2290 to reserve your spot and get further details and directions!

Planning for 2023 Annual Convention is underway

Our Annual Convention is one of our most important events of the year, where we honour the hard work of our members, celebrate the Golden Apple Award winner, hear from industry professionals, get together to socialize, and continue the time honoured tradition of 159 years of meeting to advance the tree fruit industry.

The Annual Convention Committee is looking for your feedback-- your likes, dislikes, and favourite memories of conventions past. We are trying to shape a convention that honours tradition while also adapting with the times.

We have prepared a very short, 3-question survey that we are asking folks to fill out to give us some direction as we move forward.  Fill out the survey by clicking here!

The Annual Convention Committee is also looking for new members! We are seeking new ideas and perspectives to join the team to help put on this important event. If you have any interest we would love to welcome you to our group. Most meetings take place in the quieter season, post-harvest, and potentially a meeting over the summer. Everyone is welcome!