More students in Nova Scotia will have a chance to try locally grown food and products.
The Farmers’ Market Program was started in 2024.
In a statement, Growth and Development Minister Colton LeBlanc says, “Both families and farmers’ market vendors told us how much they liked and appreciated our Nova Scotia Loyal voucher program last year and encouraged us to not only do it again, but to expand it – so that’s what we are doing.”
LeBlanc adds, “Our farmers’ markets have something for everyone. This program encourages Nova Scotians who may not otherwise visit a farmers’ market to do so, to discover all our markets have to offer and learn about the value in shopping local.”
The province says about 215,500 students and New Nova Scotians will receive farmers’ market vouchers this year.
According to a release, the $10 vouchers will be sent home this month with all public school and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey students and clients of the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia and YREACH Settlement and Language Support.
All students at publicly funded post-secondary institutions in the province will also receive vouchers in the fall.
Registered home-schooled students will receive an email from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development with a link to opt into the program
The province says 21,368 vouchers were redeemed last year; 38 per cent of users were first-time visitors to a farmers’ market.
The owner of What on Earth Farms in Canning says, “The Nova Scotia Loyal voucher program has made a huge impact on our farm business.” James Twaddell goes on to say, “We have been able to increase sales and have had the opportunity to meet wonderful members of our community, many of them for the first time.”
