New program encourages growth for Prince Edward Island’s horticulture industry

A new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) program is now available to Prince Edward Island horticulture producers to help diversify crops, adapt to changing climates, and increase the supply of Island food products in markets across Canada.

The Horticulture Diversification Program supports a variety of growth and capacity opportunities, including expanding greenhouses and controlled environment agriculture production, adopting technologies and processes to increase efficiency and productivity, as well as expanding and improving crop storage to extend the marketing season.

The program will support producers through four streams of eligible activities:   

• Season Extension and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Expansion
• Efficiency and Productivity
• Post-Harvest Cooling, Freezing, and Storage
• Agronomic Support 

This program is part of a suite of Sustainable CAP initiatives available to Prince Edward Island producers. Sustainable CAP is a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada's agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. This agreement includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

To learn more about the Horticulture Diversification program eligibility and guidelines, visit: Horticulture Diversification Program 

To learn more about what else Sustainable CAP offers producers and agriculture operations on PEI, visit: Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Quotes:

“Our Island producers are always coming up with new ways to adapt to changing climates and take advantage of new market opportunities. We’re continuing to support them by getting them the tools they need to grow more crops, improve storage, and keep producing fresh, quality food all year long.” 

 The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 

“Our local horticulture industry plays an incredibly important role in local food production. We look forward to working with producers on the adoption of new technologies to process and preserve food for local markets, and in-turn aim to improve their ability to export top quality, Island-grown products world-wide.”

• The Honourable Bloyce Thompson, PEI Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture

Media contact:

Kip Ready
Department of Agriculture
kjready@gov.pe.ca

Annie Cullinan  
Director of Communications 
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food  
annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca 

Media Relations 
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada  
Ottawa, Ontario  
613-773-7972  
1-866-345-7972 
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca 

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