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NSFGA
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The
Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association
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History
of the NSFGA
The Nova Scotia
Fruit Growers' Association was established in 1863 under
the leadership of Dr. Charles Hamilton and Lt. Col. Robert
Grant Haliburton. The primary goals of the association were
to promote Nova Scotia apples internationally and to collect
information on new varieties, diseases, insects and other
data to pass along to growers.
From its beginning,
the NSFGA has ensured that the apple industry was a key
player in the advancement of agriculture in this area. The
Fruit Growers' Association was a leader in establishing
the Wolfville School of Horticulture in 1894 and the Kentville
Experimental Farm in 1910. Nova Scotian apples were displayed
by the Association in many world exhibitions, and were praised
and rewarded for their fine quality.
The NSFGA led
the way in promoting Nova Scotia apples in the export market.
The Association's promotions were very effective in Great
Britain, and as a result, by the early part of the 20th
century, Great Britain was the leading buyer of Nova Scotia
apples. Unfortunately, the shipment of apples to Britain
was virtually halted during the First and Second World Wars.
Following the Second World War, trade picked up once again,
but never to the same degree as before. The outcome was
a switch in emphasis from the export market to the local
fresh markets and the local processing industry. This change
brought new life to the Nova Scotia apple industry, which
today produces approximately three million bushels annually.
The McIntosh apple variety accounts for the greatest proportion
of total production, with the remainder of the crop consisting
mainly of the Cortland, Spartan, Gravenstein, Idared, Spy
and Red Delicious varieties.
Presently, the
Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association continues to play
an important role in the lives of Nova Scotia apple growers
and the apple industry. Today, the Association's goal is
to create an economically viable and sustainable Nova Scotia
tree fruit industry.
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