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NLIS 7
June 23, 2000
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)


Minister Aylward commemorates two millionth cranberry plant

A special celebration was held today at the Wooddale Tree Nursery in Bishop's Falls to mark the production of the two millionth cranberry plant in the province. Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Kevin Aylward, and Anna Thistle, area M.H.A., were present at the celebrations.

There were 20,000 tissue cultured plants imported from Michigan in the spring of 1998 due to the fact that there has never been any cranberries cultivated in Newfoundland. It was decided to start the industry with clean, genetically pure, tissue cultured cranberry plants.

Propagation began immediately and by the spring of 1999, 1.2 million plants were produced for that season�s planting. Seventeen acres were planted on four sites across the province during the summer of 1999 namely Stephenville, Bonavista North, Frenchman's Cove and Terra Nova. Two new sites and expansion on two existing sites are planned for this summer.

During the winter of 1999, 800,000 new plants were propagated at the tree nursery for planting this summer. This brings the total of two million cranberry plants produced in Newfoundland.

Minister Aylward stated: "This project has demonstrated what can be accomplished when there is cooperation in government. It has required staff from different divisions and branches of the department to work together and draw on their common strengths to achieve the success they have achieved."

"The men and women here at the tree nursery have become extremely efficient at propagating cranberry plants. They have adjusted to changes that have been implemented to improve production and have responded in a very positive manner. I commend them for doing a first class job," Aylward continued.

This is an industry that requires initial capital investment but, once established, can produce an annual crop for several generations. In Nova Scotia, one cranberry operation has run consistently for 120 years and is now being operated by a fourth generation farmer, the great great grandson of the producer who planted the field in the late 1800's.

Newfoundland has the cleanest, disease and insect free cranberry fields in North America. The stock is genetically pure, thus production and quality will compete with the best in the business. Newfoundland has the ability to be leaders in this industry, just as British Columbia revolutionized the Ginseng industry in the late 1980's.

Minister Aylward concluded: "Newfoundland has an abundance of sand, clean water, and bogland, the three essential ingredients for cranberry production. We will demonstrate to the rest of North America that if you are interested in cranberry production, Newfoundland is the place to invest your money. We believe that the 17 acres of cranberry fields planted in 1999 will be harvested and will still contribute to the economy of rural Newfoundland from 2002 to 2099 and beyond."

The Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods has partnered with the private sector in this venture and expect that they will carry the torch and move this province into an exporter of cranberries and cranberry vines in the future.

Media contact: Cynthia Layden Barron, (709) 729-6183, fax :(709) 729-2076.

2000 06 23                         3:20 p.m.


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