A new provincial pilot project is aimed at helping a Halifax long-term care facility boost its use of locally grown and produced food products.
Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow says the Northwood residence is getting up to $25,000 from a $250,000 program that will eventually spread to other nursing homes as well as public schools and hospitals.
Morrow says it’s hoped the push to put more local fruit, vegetables, fish and meat into larger institutions across the province will help to meet the government’s target of having 20 per cent of all consumer food purchases be local products by 2030.
Stephanie Hefford, Northwood’s manager of food production, says the 385-resident facility currently gets about 18 per cent of its food through local sources.
Hefford says the provincial incentive will help the facility with its costs and it’s hoped the program will boost Northwood’s use of local food by another five per cent.
In particular, she says the facility is looking to increase its use of local protein foods such as meat, fish and dairy products.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2022.
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