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Blue skies ahead

The Coronavirus pandemic delivered its own set of challenges for local farmers. The added cool spring in the Maritimes, didn鈥檛 help. There鈥檚 no arguing that it鈥檚 been a different growing season, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped Perennia鈥檚 (acting) Vegetable Specialist, Caitlin Congdon from offering sound advice, resources and even optimism to local vegetable producers.

鈥淣ormally I would be out in the fields and on farms, working directly with producers, so it鈥檚 very strange to not be able to do that freely,鈥� says Caitlin. 鈥淏ut I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home. Meetings with growers have shifted to phone and video calls.鈥�

While that may not be ideal, it鈥檚 working, and Caitlin is hopeful for a good season for those farmers.

鈥淲e are trying to look ahead to challenges that growers will face throughout the season due to the pandemic and connect them with the appropriate resources as well as providing the timely in-season information as usual.鈥�

Farmers have been dealt a lot of challenging hands over the past few years in terms of adverse weather events and now a global pandemic. Caitlin says there has certainly been some financial strain where yields haven鈥檛 been as high as might be expected.

In terms of labour, the pandemic restrictions have made employment more challenging as temporary foreign workers arrived late, if at all, leading to hard decisions about how much crop could actually get into the ground. Then there were the added challenges when they did arrive 鈥� starting work later than usual and having to isolate upon arrival

鈥淭he effort to get these workers to the province has been amazing, and along with the local seasonal workforce, they will be working hard to make the most out of the season,鈥� says Caitlin. Which will be appreciated by consumers, who, Caitlin says, seem to be paying a little more attention to what is being produced in local areas. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed the public appreciating the diversity of products being offered in season. I hope that continues long after the pandemic!鈥�

But farmers aren鈥檛 out of the woods just yet. Caitlin suggests farmers may be faced with another hurdle come harvest.

鈥淭he amount of labour available for harvest, may be a limiting factor,鈥� she suggests. Which may mean that some perfectly good produce is left in the field if it can鈥檛 be harvested in time. 鈥淣ova Scotia farmers are resilient and determined. I have no doubt that they will be doing everything to maintain the high quality of food production that they usually have,鈥� she says.

And while Caitlin has been doing her part, producers are doing their part, it鈥檚 our turn to do our part, as consumers.

鈥淣ow it鈥檚 up to the community to buy local,鈥� says Caitlin. 鈥淐hoose local and seasonal products at the grocery store and check out your local farmers market if they鈥檙e still operating. If you can order directly from a farm or a farm market, do that too!鈥�

Despite the challenging start to the season, if consumers can be open and optimistic like Caitlin and our farmers, it could still be a good year.

鈥淣ova Scotia farms produce so many great products and this is a unique opportunity for more people to experience them,鈥� she adds. 鈥淭ake advantage of what can be found and grown in our own province!鈥�