More Local Food Coming to Northwood

A new pilot project will put more local fruit, vegetables, meat and fish on the menu at Northwood’s Halifax Campus, Atlantic Canada’s largest long-term care facility.

Agriculture Minster Greg Morrow announced the project today, December 9, at Northwood.

The pilot project with Northwood supports a transition from imported food to locally grown and produced food, allowing the facility to access up to $25,000 in incentives – $12,500 up front to help cover startup costs and up to $12,500 later, based on its increased spend on local food.

Northwood is working with its suppliers, including Gordon Food Service’s Atlantic division, based in Nova Scotia, to bring in more local food.

This project supports the government’s mandate to encourage local food consumption with a goal of 20 per cent of the money spent on food by Nova Scotians being spent on locally produced food by 2030.

Work is underway to expand the pilot program to more nursing homes, healthcare facilities, public schools, post-secondary institutions and correctional facilities.