BALFRON: Meadowbrook Farms recently received funding from the provincial government through the Direct Marketing Community Development Trust Fund.
The money is meant to be applied to upgrading its meat shop in order to provide opportunities for consumers to have access to local products.
The Community Development Trust Fund has been created to allow individuals better access to local products, as well as aid agriculture businesses in selling their goods directly to consumers.
Agriculture Minister John MacDonell announced an overall injection of $430,984 in funding on Tuesday, Dec. 22, to “help strengthen local food direct marketers’ infrastructure and sustainability.”
Other organizations that received funding were Meadow Brook Meat Market in Berwick, Farmers’ Market of Nova Scotia Co-operative of Halifax, and the Wolfville Farmers’ Market.
“These businesses are an integral part of Nova Scotia’s agriculture community,” said MacDonell. “These projects were chosen for their strong business plans and benefits for the agri-food industry in Nova Scotia.”
“We are investing in farm and farmers’ market businesses that promote the variety and quality of food Nova Scotia has to offer,” said MacDonell. “I am pleased that farmers and other food producers are initiating new, innovative business ventures to bring their foods more directly to consumers.”
The Community Development Trust Fund is a $34.9 million program established in 2008 by the federal government to help communities and business sectors experiencing economic challenges.
Funding proposals are being accepted until March 2011.
For more information on the Community Development Trust Fund, as well as how to submit a proposal, visit www.gov.ns.ca/econ/cdtrust.