Another milestone in the agrifoods industry

Rick Woodford, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, said today that a new milestone has been reached in the agrifoods industry with the province�s first commercial cranberry harvest that took place last week on the west coast.

The cranberry operation, located on Highway 490, Stephenville, is operated by Paul Lomond and is the first commercial field to be planted in the province. It is one of four pilot commercial cranberry operations established following a partnership between the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods and the private sector in an effort to develop a commercial cranberry industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"The volume of fruit ready for the marketplace on Mr. Lomond�s site just three years after planting it is very exciting news," said Minister Woodford. "It is the first concrete evidence that the cranberry is an established commercial crop for Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Lomond�s operation demonstrates the potential that exists for a commercial cranberry industry in our province and the good things that are happening in agriculture in our province."

Mr. Lomond�s site was planted in July, 1999, and later that season three additional sites were planted at Terra Nova, Deadman�s Bay and Frenchmen�s Cove. A commercial harvest is expected from the other cranberry operations in the fall of 2003. The seven thousand pounds of cranberries recently harvested on Mr. Lomond�s site will be used for the fresh packaging market, as well as the wine market.

Minister Woodford said he is extremely confident that this crop will become a part of mainstream agriculture in Newfoundland and Labrador. "The importance of our agrifoods industry was highlighted in our Jobs and Growth consultations and government has remain committed to helping move the industry forward through identifying new opportunities in areas such as cranberry production."

The province�s environment is very suitable for cranberry production with its large acreages of bog land, good quality sand, and an abundance of clean water. The work that has been completed to date has shown that commercial varieties of cranberries commonly grown in the industry will produce and mature in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The minister added that our first commercial production is coming on stream at the right time as prices for cranberries are very strong and the market for cranberry products is expanding rapidly. Cranberry juice is the fastest growing produce on the juice market in North America, and is being picked up by large juice companies such Tropicana and Welshes. The opportunity to market large volumes of fruit is growing.

Minister Woodford said a new cranberry sector will provide opportunities for secondary processing for such products as wine, jams, jellies and juices, as well as spin-off benefits for other industries, including construction, transportation and machine fabrication.

"I want to commend the partnering that is occurring between the private sector and our department, which has led to the continued growth and diversification of our agrifoods industry in new crops such as cranberries," said the minister. "We will continue to work with our private partners to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed in this new venture and become the nucleus of an expanded cranberry industry in this province for many years to come."

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Communications, (709) 729-6183.

2002 11 21                                        2:45 p.m.