Wild Blueberry and Apple Harvest Efficiency

Description

The Wild Blueberry Producer's Association of Nova Scotia (WBPANS) and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture (NSDA) are partnering together to support the development of new innovative packaging and/or value-added consumer food product(s) using Nova Scotia wild blueberries.

• PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

 

• The Wild Blueberry and Apple Harvest Efficiency Program supports the modernization of wild blueberry and apple harvesting equipment for growers to reduce labour requirements, increase productivity, and improve profitability. 

 

• ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS 
• Registered Farms We support the development of diverse and inclusive industries.
• We welcome individuals from all equity-deserving communities including but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, Black and African Nova Scotians, Mi’kmaq, Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQI+ and racialized individuals, to apply to programming. 

PROGRAM CRITERIA Farms must:

• be currently and properly registered in the correct income level under the Farm Registration Act
• have generated an annual eligible gross farming income of at least $30,000
• be a wild blueberry or apple producer
• be at least 19 years old and actively farming in the program

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Applicants can apply to receive Program funding up to 30% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of: 

• $50,000 for harvest assist platforms 

• $27,000 for 60” harvester heads 

• $15,000 for 48” harvester heads and front-mounted push rake

 

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: • Degree of Impact – Describe how the new equipment will financially impact your business (i.e. reduce costs, increase revenue, improve fruit quality, improve harvested yield, etc.) (50 points) • Labour Impact – Describe how the new equipment will change your labour requirements (25 points) • Industry Impact - Describe the degree to which the new equipment reaches the wider Nova Scotia wild blueberry and/or apple industry (25 points)

 

PROGRAM GUIDELINES 2024-25 3 Note 2: 

Applicants who received funding for 48” harvester heads under the 2018-2020 Wild Blueberry Harvest Efficiency Program are only eligible to apply for 60” harvester heads under this Program.

 Priority will be given to applicants who have not received Program funding under the previous program.

 Note 3: Approval of applications is subject to availability of Program funding. 

The total amount of Program funding awarded to each applicant, or to associated applicants, may be limited at the discretion of the Department of Agriculture to ensure opportunities for additional applicants to access Program funding.

ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT Eligible expenses are expenses that will be compensated up to the set percentage rate of 30% of the maximum program funding are as follows:

 • 60” and 48” harvester heads for wild blueberries 

• Tractor-mounted push rakes for wild blueberries 

• Harvest assist platforms for apples

INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES Ineligible expenses are expenses that will not be compensated under this program and include but are not limited to, the following expenses: 

• Administrative/general overhead 

• In-kind contributions

 • Used equipment purchases 

• Leased equipment 

• Operating expenses/existing staff salaries 

• Travel 

• HST

 

APPLICATION PROCESS To apply for the Wild Blueberry and Apple Harvest Efficiency Program: 

1. Submit a complete application with all supporting project quotes by February 19, 2025. Application Intake Period Activity Period Claiming Deadline January 24 – February 19, 2025 April 1, 2024- March 28, 2025 – full purchase or deposit April 1 – September 30, 2025 

– second claim March 28, 2025 – full purchase or deposit September 30, 2025 – second claim