COMMUNITY STILL HOPEFUL NEW OWNERS CAN BE FOUND FOR VACANT MCCAIN PLANT . . . NSPE AND NSCP TO HOST INAUGURAL ELITE BEEF EXPO  . . . FRESH ONTARIO GRAPES AT CHRISTMAS COULD SOON BE A REALITY . . . 6TH ANNUAL SMALL FARM EXPO 2015 . . . NATURE WRITING RETREAT JULY 25-26 . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

COMMUNITY STILL HOPEFUL NEW OWNERS CAN BE FOUND FOR VACANT MCCAIN PLANT
Source: Island Farmer
A recent order-in council shows just how close a deal for new ownership at the McCain Foods plant in Borden-Carleton may have been. The order rescinds previous approval to transfer ownership of 69.56 acres in Cape Traverse from McCain Foods to Qingfeng Zhou and Hui Shi, both of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China; Gungfu Li of Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia, China; and Yushi Zhou of Winnipeg. They are the principal players in Huaou Starch Canada Ltd, a subsidiary of a company that manufactures and sells potato starch in China and throughout Asia. They also sell seed potatoes. The Island Farmer was unable to contact the company for comment. (read more)

NSPE AND NSCP TO HOST INAUGURAL ELITE BEEF EXPO
Source: NSCP
On August 28 and 29 the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition will host a show that will feature the best beef animals from Nova Scotia and across the Maritimes. The Nova Scotia Cattle Producers, in cooperation with the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission, are creating a unique experience for visitors to this year’s exhibition in August by hosting the inaugural Nova Scotia Elite Beef Expo. This is a positive time for the industry with beef prices at an all-time high and that gives us an opportunity to put together a beef show that is interesting for people attending the exhibition and increases the profile of the industry. (read more)

FRESH ONTARIO GRAPES AT CHRISTMAS COULD SOON BE A REALITY
Source: AgInnovation Ontario
Postharvest specialists at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) have found a way to extend the shelf life of fresh Ontario table grapes so they can be available to consumers longer. Sovereign Coronation is the most popular table grape variety grown in Ontario and it is ripe and ready for market in late summer and early fall – the same time as many other local fruits, as well as table grapes from other jurisdictions. (read more)

6TH ANNUAL SMALL FARM EXPO 2015
Source: NSFA Join us this year at the Bridgewater Exhibition Grounds in Bridgewater, on Monday, July 20 for another great lineup of workshops led by local farmers. We will explore how today’s small-scale farmers are building on the strong foundation of traditional farming knowledge and practices with modern production technology, farm business management and marketing. (read more)

NATURE WRITING RETREAT JULY 25-26
Source: Harrison Lewis Centre
Join us for a nature writing retreat with Soren Bondrup-Neilsen at the Harrison Lewis Centre on Nova Scotia’s beautiful South Shore. A weekend of honing your writing skills, friendship, thoughtful sharing of ideas and insights, good food, and learning to open your eyes and your mind to the natural world around us. Bondrup-Neilsen (http://www.bondrup.com/) is an ecologist who teaches at Acadia University. As well as being his profession, most of his personal interests involve nature. He is the author of four books – Merging: Contemplations of Farming and Ecology from Horseback; A sound like water dripping: In search of the Boreal Owl; Winter Nature: Common Mammals, Birds, Trees and Shrubs of the Maritimes; Winter on Diamond: An encounter with the Temagami Wilderness. The writers’ weekend will include nature walks to discover and understand our surroundings, followed by individual writing time, and gathering as a group to share and discuss the participants’ work.
HLC@eastlink.ca