SUPPORTING GROWTH IN THE PROVINCE’S AGRICULTURE AND SEAFOOD INDUSTRIES
PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 TABLE OF CONTENTS
19 21 27 31 35
SPURR ATLANTIC SEA BROOK BROTHERS CUCUMBER INC. RIDGE FARM TACKLED REACHES BRINGING REPLANTING INTERNATIONAL LOCALLY- ISSUES IN SHELVES SOURCED ORCHARDS LAMB POT THROUGH HEALTHY BERRIES RIPE FOR PIES INTO PERENNIA THE PICKING MARKET
PERENNIA HELPS BRING EFFICIENCY AND GROWTH TO FOLLY RIVER FARM 45 47 49 37 43 VIVEAU’S SIMPLY DELICIOUS BEVERAGE READY TO HILL’S SPRING INTO JAMAICAN AVONDALE SKY MARKET JERK SAUCE NO SUGAR, NO WINERY FINDS A FINDS HOME PROBLEM: BLUE MOBILE SOLUTION IN SOBEYS MAKING CRICKETS INTO PET LOBSTER COOLERS FIND TO BOTTLING STORES TREATS AND SUPPLEMENTS TASTE NATURALLY WARES
IN THIS ISSUE
1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 11 AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO 23 SEAFOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 5 OUR MISSION 29 QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 7 2018-19 METRICS 39 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Perennia’s audited financial statements for 2018-2019 will be available at www.perennia.ca by June 30, 2019. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
This year continued the trend of exciting and filtration line for still and sparkling that she was appointed permanent CEO interesting developments for Perennia in a number wines and ciders this year with the in March. of areas toward furthering our mission and vision. expectation to launch that service for industry by fall 2019. Finally, it is the staff with their wealth of We officially opened Bloom Labs, Nova Scotia’s only expertise and insight in a variety of fields Health Canada licensed cannabis analytical testing, at Our work managing a provincial wine that makes this valued work possible. the Perennia Food and Beverage Innovation Centre. quality standard project is leading to an On behalf of the Board, thank you to internationally-recognized wine quality everyone for the hard work you do every As always, we work collaboratively with the Nova program for wines produced with Nova day to help farmers, fishers and food Scotia departments of Agriculture, and Fisheries Scotia grapes. processors in the province. and Aquaculture and continue to be a key partner with the province in undertaking and implementing I would like to thank all of our Board development projects for the seafood sector. members, who once again showed how valuable their work is. They donated Since 2000, the grape and wine sector has grown their time and expertise to guide to more than 20 wineries and approximately 1,200 Perennia in reaching our goals. Charles Keddy acres of grapes planted. In 2018 -19 we expanded Chair, our services and team with the introduction of a While the year was filled with success, Perennia Food and Agriculture Board Wine Quality Specialist in partnership with Acadia it also marked the loss of Perennia University’s ALAB. This has been another valuable Board member Dannie Hanson, who addition to our wine team as quality is a priority, passed away in 2018. From everyone at from vine planting to production practices to the Perennia, we share our gratitude for his winemaking itself. vision and our grief with his family.
It was our first full year for our still wine mobile It is my pleasure to acknowledge Lynne bottling line and we were delighted to bottle Godlien who has been leading this team 50,895 litres of wine in our inaugural year. We also for the last two years as COO and Acting received federal and provincial funding for a mobile CEO. I am pleased to share the news
1 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
This fiscal year was another exciting time for Perennia Our Agri-Services team excelled while implementing the The Perennia Food and Beverage Innovation Centre team was with new staff, service lines and new programs for Agriculture Production Extension Program on behalf of very busy in 2018-19 supporting clients with current products industry. Our theme this year was growth. Perennia the province. It is such an honour to lead a team that has needing technical assistance with shelf life, flavour profiles collaborated with more companies than ever to help changed over the years, and has transitioned the way we and packaging. The team also did applied research for clients, them prepare for growth and enhanced profitability. deliver the program in many ways, but that is so incredibly lobster bait projects, analytical testing and developed new Whether outgrowing home-based kitchens to focused on the needs of each farmer they interact with and products like the new Blue Lobster vodka soda with Nova growing export markets, our clients growing their sector development. Scotia Spirits. In addition, the team worked with tenants at the own businesses means they’re helping grow our Innovation Centre, and supported food processors by renting economy. Perennia having any small role to play in The same level of dedication is evident in our seafood, food equipment for them to try in their businesses as they weighed that growth is incredibly rewarding for us. safety and product development teams. This year, our food the decision to buy their own, lowering their risk in making the safety team saw all our clients we prepared for audits pass important decision of purchasing expensive equipment versus As Nova Scotia’s technical development agency with an 88 per cent or higher. We offered the leading public its return on investment. supporting the growth of the Province’s agriculture food safety training program in Atlantic Canada in partnership and seafood industries, Perennia operates in a wide with NSF International from Guelph, Ont. This is a program I want to thank all staff and our board of directors for all their variety of sectors, on a vast number of projects and we have offered for over 10 years, and we trained over 60 work this past year, and I cannot wait for another successful initiatives. In 2018-19, we worked with a diverse array agriculture and seafood-based food participants in 2018-19. fiscal term in 2019-2020. of clients, implemented development programs and The team developed some exceptional content for producers undertook applied research in key areas. and food processors including an in-depth publication on food safety considerations and best practices. This past year we secured funding and launched the Agri-Food Accelerator Program for agriculture The priority of our seafood team this year to connect producers and food and beverage businesses. In with industry on discovery trips in key fishery areas, and Lynne Godlien 2018-19 we also developed a proposal for a seafood through trade shows, workshops and meetings was a huge CEO, accelerator program to help industry access new success. They also undertook major development projects Perennia Food and Agriculture markets and develop value-added products. Our for the province in sector development, quality standards hope is that this will be approved and implemented development, technology and managed the very successful in 2019-20. Minister’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Conference in Halifax in February.
3 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 4 ABOUT US
Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. is Nova Scotia’s technical development agency for the agriculture and seafood sectors. The program, services and projects we implement and offer support the growth of these two sectors which are key provincial economic drivers and vital to the sustainability and growth of our rural and coastal communities. OUR MISSION
OUR MISSION
to support the sustainability and competitiveness of Nova Scotia’s agriculture and seafood sectors
5 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 6 2018-19 METRICS 75+ Agriculture presentations, field days and workshops
6 40 9 Companies assisted under 4 Product and process Public food safety Perennia’s NRC-IRAP Funding Private food safety development training sessions training sessions 1,100+ projects Farm calls 3 Graduated tenants 5 10 56 30 Seafood Nutritional Fulltime tenant Food Safety Projects labelling/ spaces filled and projects regulatory serviced 64 projects Food Safety E-Learning participants
All of our clients we 75+ 60 10 Agriculture-related prepared for audits passed Analytical lab projects Shelf-Life Studies projects with 88 per cent or higher
7 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 8 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Perennia has an active board of directors, all of whom bring a wealth of business and industry experience, as well as vast experience on dozens of other business and not-for-profit boards.
CHARLES KEDDY, CHAIR NOËL DESPRÉS, VICE CHAIR MILTON WOOD, TREASURER BILL HAY, BOARD MEMBER Charles Keddy is a first Noël Després is President & CEO, Milton Wood is Director of Bill Hay is Chairman of Trucorp generation farmer operating Comeau Seafoods Ltd and has over Manufacturing with Oxford Frozen Investments Limited, the company C. O. Keddy Nursery Inc and 30 years of progressive experience Foods Group. He also operates a very that owns and operates Bonté Foods Charles Keddy Farms in Kentville, with Comeau’s. productive wild blueberry farm in the Limited, a food manufacturing and Nova Scotia with his family. Oxford area. retail company in Dieppe, New Brunswick and Grinner’s Food Systems Limited in Truro.
VICTOR OULTON, DON DOWNE, RÉAL SAMSON, PHD, BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER Victor Oulton is part of WG Oulton Don Downe has built a successful career Réal Samson is a past Director of We want to acknowledge the passing of one of & Sons Ltd located in Martock, as an entrepreneur, farmer and elected the Université Sainte-Anne Bachelor our board members, Dannie Hanson, who passed Hants County. In addition to the official in the Province of Nova Scotia. of Education program, president of away suddenly in July 2018. Dannie was a vocal Hereford beef cattle, the He has owned and operated a successful Collège de l’Acadie, a francophone and passionate advocate for Perennia and was family-run operation includes a poultry operation, served as provincial community college and has held Vice-President of Sustainability and Public Affairs variety of other animals and a minister for a number of departments, senior administrative positions with the at Louisburg Seafoods. provincially inspected abattoir and and also served as Mayor of the provincial government. He is currently poultry processing plant. Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Director of Business Development for the Premium Seafoods Group.
9 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 10 In 2018-19, our agricultural specialists WINE QUALITY SPECIALIST undertook over 75 developmental and Perennia also hired a Wine Quality Specialist consulting initiatives. Here are some examples: to work collaboratively with ALAB, Acadia AGRICULTURE PLANT HEALTH LAB University’s Laboratory for Agri-Food and Beverage. When wine producers are sending PROGRAMS AND SERVICES The past fiscal year was a busy one for samples to be analyzed at ALAB, they have Perennia’s wine services starting with the the option to share their results with the Wine Perennia’s Agri-Services team develops and establishment of the Plant Health Lab. This Quality Specialist and receive interpretations. implements programs on behalf of Nova Scotia, project was funded by the Nova Scotia This allows them to better understand their undertakes development and applied research Department of Agriculture (NSDA) and was results and the impact on the quality of their projects and also provides confidential consulting initiated in conjunction with Agriculture and products. The specialist also worked with services to conventional and organic farm Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to establish a wineries to design a new style of wine (pétillant- businesses. As part of the Agriculture Production regional testing lab for grapevine viruses. naturel) with innovative packaging and a project Extension Program, specialists provide advice, Perennia’s objective for this project was to to design and produce a traditional method information and skills development to support test newly-planted blocks funded under sparkling wine from local grapes. farmers in achieving success. The following the provincial Vineyard Development and specialities were offered in 2018-19: dairy, hog, Expansion Program for three viruses: Grapevine NURSERY INSPECTION PROGRAMS beef, sheep, poultry, eggs, mink, field crops, berry Leafroll-Associated Virus 1 (GLRaV-1), Grapevine Perennia delivered the Strawberry and crops, vegetables, viticulture, tree fruits and soils. Leafroll-Associated Virus 3 (GLRaV-3), and Raspberry Nursery Inspection Program on Grapevine Red Blotch Virus (GRBV). Throughout behalf of the Nova Scotia government. This late summer and early fall, blocks in Kings inspection program allows nurserymen to sell County were sampled and screened in the new plants to customers, with third party inspections lab and testing confirmed the presence of all and traceable reports. This program has some three viruses. Results were communicated to of the highest inspection standards in North participating growers in advance of the 2019 America. It also serves to reduce risk for Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia nurserymen, by limiting the risk of pest infected (GGANS) Annual General Meeting, along with plants being shipped to customers. management recommendations.
Currently, Nova Scotia grape growers looking to PROTECTING STRAWBERRIES independently test material from their vineyards The strawberry aphid/virus monitoring project must send samples out of province for virus is an ongoing program that was established testing. The Plant Health Lab service line was in 2013 in response to a provincial strawberry developed this past fiscal year to give growers a virus outbreak. The project is a collaboration local option. Testing is currently available for the between Perennia, Horticulture Nova Scotia and three grapevine viruses previously mentioned, NSDA, as well as strawberry growers province- with plans to expand screening to more wide. Strawberry fields were monitored in 2018- viruses and horticulture crops in the future. 19 to track aphid population size and flight The service will start accepting samples late periods (highest risk for virus transmission). in summer 2019 and will provide growers with Strawberry virus sampling was also performed in up-to-date information on the virus status of late summer and fall to test for virus infections their vineyards, in combination with extension in new strawberry plantings. The project informs support from Perennia staff. strawberry growers when there are high-risk periods for virus transmission, so that controls may prevent the further spread of virus.
PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 12 TERROIR STUDY lands. These flowers will be harvested, stored and lambs because they attended the workshop. In the fall used in the production of new herbal teas. The of 2017, Perennia lead an information trip to Ontario The three year “Terroir Study of the Wine Growing We Grow Preston Group started a children’s ‘Bee with three sheep producers where they visited several Region of Nova Scotia” is now in its second year and Farm’ on a Bell street lot. The Creative Farm Project large sheep operations. Two of these producers have is assessing which grape varieties are more suitable at Centerville is doing aquaponics farming with undertaken expansion in the 2018-19 year. One of these for Nova Scotia climatic conditions. The study covers Tilapia, herbs and specialty vegetables. And, project producers expanded from 30 ewes to 300. The second four main areas located in the Annapolis Valley in staff are working with two African immigrants, one producer has renovated their barn and installed a feed 14 different established vineyards and eight grape from Alberta and the other from Newfoundland mixing system that has allowed them to improve their varieties including hybrids and Vitis vinifera. When and Labrador. Both have elaborate plans and are sheep and cattle nutrition and feeding efficiency. They the study is complete in 2020, it will allow grape aggressively looking to acquire land. have begun their flock expansion increasing from 50 to growers to have current and accurate information 150 ewes with plans to expand to about 500 in the next about soil, climate, phenological stages of local THINK EXPORT couple of years. grape varieties, as well as how to evaluate this information in order to use in vineyard management. As a result of feedback received at the 2018 Wine and Grape Networking Conference, an export OVERWINTERING OF HONEY BEE COLONIES NOVA SCOTIA QUALITY information session was held on February 19, 2019 This year Perennia’s Atlantic Technology Transfer Team WINE STANDARDS specifically designed for the wine sector. Nova for Apiculture conducted a project “Evaluating the Effect Scotia Business Inc.’s (NSBI) “Think Export – the of Fall Feeding Pollen Substitutes on the Growth and On behalf of NSDA, Perennia completed the second Wine Edition” included tours of the new location Overwintering Strength of Honey Bee Colonies in Nova phase of the Nova Scotia Quality Wine (NSQW) for Acadia University’s ALAB with details on each Scotia.” As part the project, the team tested the effect Standard Development project. The required piece of equipment for tour participants to read of feeding pollen substitutes in the fall of 2018 to honey committees and working groups were set up to as well as details about Perennia and Acadia's bee colonies on colony growth and overwintering success create a NSQW (technical) document tailored to services available for vineyards and wineries. There near Truro. Two types of pollen substitute, in addition to Nova Scotia’s needs, in addition to obtaining the were 30 people in attendance. Members of the a control group, were tested across 96 colonies. The late research and background documentation required wine industry reported being better informed summer is particularly important as this is when ‘winter to ensure that the standard would be consistent with about the requirements for exporting product bees’ in the colony are being reared and require adequate national and international requirements for a top tier and were connected with specific people at other pollen, which provides protein. When completed, the quality wine standard. Simultaneously, the project organizations who could assist them should they study will provide beekeepers with information on if and contractors oversaw the development of a plan for choose to export. In addition, there was an increased when to feed pollen substitute in the season and any a full Quality Wine Standard System that would knowledge of the wine testing services available potential impacts on overwintering success. implement and enforce the NSQW Standard. at ALAB and the Wine and grape related services of Perennia. The session was a hit with participants QUEEN REARING CASE STUDY AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIA who gave it a 98 per cent success rating. Session AGRI-PROJECT Few beekeeping operations in the Maritimes are partners were Perennia, Acadia, NSBI, NSDA, AAFC, currently producing their own queens to the point of self- The objective of the African Nova Scotia Agri- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Export sustainability. In 2018, Perennia established a multi-year Project is to create new value to existing farm and Development Canada (EDC). queen rearing case study in New Brunswick to evaluate seafood industries, and general food production; if on-farm rearing of queens could be economically as well as to support new farm businesses in the SHEEP PRODUCTION SUPPORT viable and worthwhile for beekeepers. This year Perennia province’s African communities. During 2018-19, the In 2018-19, Perennia presented three Improving successfully reared nearly 400 queen cells, conducted project received in highest number of inquiries to Lamb Survival and Ewe Nutrition workshops in hands-on queen rearing training, initiated queen rearing date and undertook a number of exciting initiatives. partnership with the Sheep Producers Association of in several commercial beekeeping operations across the Hope Blooms worked with the older youth at the Nova Scotia. The sessions where very well attended Maritimes, and conducted a preliminary cost analysis East Preston Daycare Centre, and the Sunday with 100 producers participating. The workshops for queen rearing. The team is working with beekeepers school students at East Preston Baptist church to focused on ensuring the lambs got off to a good to select superior genetics, better understand the need rejuvenate the old church garden into a community start and how to save hypothermic and starving for queen sustainability in the Maritimes, and transfer garden. Hope Blooms will harvest the first blooms lambs. The response was very positive and many education and technology about queens. of dandelion-flowers from the church, the Black producers have indicated that they have saved Cultural Centre, and the AKOMA Family Centre-
13 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 14 ENHANCING DAIRY COMPETITIVENESS The dairy sector is very important to Nova Scotia’s agriculture industry and in 2018-19, Perennia undertook two key projects to support enhanced competitiveness in the sector.
In the dairy sector, there is precious little information on the cost of production in dairy farming in Canada, let alone Nova Scotia. This past year, Perennia conducted meetings across the province to introduce producers to a web-based program used in the United Kingdom, which has been converted for use in Canada. Producers enter monthly physical and financial data and, once each year, enter all overhead costs to establish Cost of Production for the entire ALFALFA RESEARCH TRIALS FIRE BLIGHT DISEASE INFORMATION VINEYARD ACREAGE CERTIFICATION farm business. Monthly reports are generated to track performance and benchmark with other producers in Roundup Ready/Low Lignin alfalfa has increased in popularity In 2018 efforts continued to maintain low levels of fire The Nova Scotia Wine Standards Regulations require that the province. To date, 15 producers are active with due to its improved ability to maintain quality with a wider blight disease infections in tree fruits. Questionable tissue all farm wineries meet acreage minimums, production the program and group meetings are being held to harvest window. In the Maritimes, it is common practice to infections were collected, analyzed and results shared with standards and location eligilbility for fruit produced on discuss the figures. add a grass species with the alfalfa to protect against losses growers for timely management of a devastating disease. their farms. The Vineyard Acreage Certification Committee, from winter kill and increase yield. With changes in the harvest Weather conditions were monitored, and fire blight infection consisting of NSDA, Perennia and GGANS representatives, Transition Cow Monitor (TCM) is an important window, there is uncertainty as to which grass species to alerts and recommendations were provided to the industry visits each farm winery in the province to determine that data model which acts as an early warning system pair with the low lignin alfalfa. In the fall of 2017, plots were during high risk periods. these requirements are being met. In 2018, the committee of potential metabolic disease in cows. Cows are established with six species. In summer 2018, yield and quality was tasked with a pilot project to visit all non-grape assessed at regular intervals through transition and samples were taken from these plots during each harvest. As VINEYARD SITE ASSESSMENTS wineries that fall under the regulations but that had not TCM will flag cows needing attention, or that simply a result, depending on the number of cuts, either tall fescue The Nova Scotia Vineyard Development and Expansion been receiving an annual certification visit. In 2018, the need to be monitored. This takes away the need to (three cuts) or orchard grass (four cuts) would give the greatest Program is a provincially funded program that aims to assist committee visited 21 grape winery locations (existing and have a person do the recording and the potential for yield and quality. the Nova Scotia wine grape industry to better position the new applications) and six non-grape winery locations (small inconsistency which that creates. Adopting TCM could Province within the marketplace. For growers wishing to fruit/cideries/meadery) across the province. save the average Nova Scotia producer over $15,000 BIOSECURITY NOVA SCOTIA REVAMP access some funding streams, the first step is to complete a annually by identifying problems that could lead to Perennia initiated a multi-year project to enhance and develop site assessment of their property to determine whether it is metabolic disease. In 2018-19, Perennia continued in the Biosecurity Nova Scotia website. Having easy access to suitable for grape production. Perennia has been providing the discovery phase in assessing the best way to make practical biosecurity-related resources and information is this service to the program since it began in 2015 and has TCM available to a large number of producers. imperative as the Nova Scotia agricultural industries manage been the sole provider since 2017. These site assessments day-to-day risks on their crop and livestock operations. include in depth information on soils and recommendations Through this federal-provincial funded project, Perennia will on which varieties will perform best. In 2018, Perennia overhaul the Biosecurity Nova Scotia website and develop a conducted 11 partial site assessments (additions or wide range of resources, inclusive of horticulture, field crop and renovations to existing vineyard properties) and 17 full site livestock industries. assessments on new properties for wine grape production.
15 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 16 ATLANTIC SOIL HEALTH LAB which combines classroom learning with collaboration with NSDA and AAFC. PESTICIDE APPLICATION on-farm experience, earning students Pheromone traps were set up at allium Perennia is a partner with The Atlantic REFRESHER a Certificate of Qualification in Farm and brassica field sites and collected on Soil Health Lab, which is funded by Technician by the PEI Department of a weekly basis. It was confirmed leek This past year Perennia hosted a one- the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Innovation and Advanced Learning. moth is present in the province, but that day pesticide application refresher for Program. The program provides Apprentices work throughout the year swede midge is still absent. The project wild blueberry growers as part of a larger analytical support for research in the gaining skills on-farm with a farm mentor informed growers of when these new initiative to improve pesticide application development and characterization in addition to participating in five pests are present, allowing for controls across the industry and the wild blueberry of soil health in Atlantic Canada. weeks of in-class training delivered by to be implemented. sector specifically. The larger initiative Other partners on the project include Extended Learning, Dalhousie Faculty includes sprayer calibration sessions, Fertilizer Canada, the PEI Department of Agriculture in PEI. Through a contract WESTERN BEAN CUTWORM updating pesticide guides, sector specific of Agriculture and the Nova Scotia with Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, talks etc. For this component, Perennia and PEI Federations of Agriculture. GROWER MEETINGS Perennia developed and delivered the developed and delivered a five-hour Researchers and extension agents will In fall 2017, western bean cutworm four-day Soil and Nutrient Management session on all aspects of pesticide be working directly with the agricultural damage was confirmed in Nova Scotia’s component of the training. Students in application with specific focus on the community to assess soil health, carbon corn crop. Before then, this was not a the program have the option to become challenges of wild blueberries. More storage capacity and soil nitrogen recognized insect pest in the Maritimes. a Blue Seal Certified Farm Technician than 70 growers attended with over 90 supply as a basis for greenhouse This insect chews on the corn cob, upon successful completion of the per cent saying they will be changing gas mitigation planning. The four- creating channels for Giberella infection program. Nova Scotia hopes to have a practices based on the workshop. to-five-year project, which started in which causes myco-toxins in the grain. similar program up and running by 2020. 2017, will involve visiting farms across In winter 2018, Perennia hosted several FRUITLET THINNER TRIAL grower meetings on this issue, and in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and This past year Perennia worked with the SWEDE MIDGE AND LEEK summer organized seed companies and Prince Edward Island, testing soils Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association MOTH MONITORING NSDA staff to monitor the pest. As a and talking with farmers about the to trial a new fruitlet thinner that has Pests can be incredibly devastating to result, about 750 acres of highly infested soil management practices they are potential to become a crop load vegetable crops. Based on research acres were identified and sprayed in the currently using. management tool. The trial was done confirming two new invasive species Annapolis Valley. at Eisses Farm Ltd. to demonstrate the were present in Canada, a monitoring PEI FARM TECHNICIAN efficacy of the product in the Annapolis project was established to detect leek APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM Valley. The product will soon become moths and swede midge by trapping The PEI Farm Technician Apprenticeship registered in Canada and growers in Nova at sites across Nova Scotia. They were Program was developed in consultation Scotia were among the first to have access recently established in New Brunswick with the PEI Agricultural Trade Advisory to public trials. and affect alliums and brassicas. Committee and offers a two-year The project was implemented in registered apprenticeship program
17 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 18 When Lauchie and Jolene MacEachern took over came in, Perennia advised on how far the robots a farm they worked on seven years ago, they had to be from the cows and provided resources never imagined how technology would completely for the MacEacherns to review. “Perennia ensured change their work. we could make informed decisions and know what was best for the cows.” Primarily a dairy farm, Folly River Farm, located in Debert, Nova Scotia, spreads over 300 acres, “The work we’ve done with with 85 cows. After years spent milking cows three times a day, the couple looked to technology to Perennia has allowed us to grow make the process more efficient. substantially since we purchased A funding program was offering grants for new the farm. We’ve increased projects and the farm qualified in the lottery-style production by 40 per cent draw, allowing them to make the investment in robots. But it was the groundwork Perennia helped without increasing our herd size.” implement, with animal comfort and stability that allowed for everything to come together. Because of the dairy consulting services provided PERENNIA HELPS by Perennia the MacEacherns now have more “We had always heard great things about free time, a rarity for most farmers, they’re falling BRING EFFICIENCY Perennia,” Lauchie said. “When our sales manager into easier routines and are able to take on other AND GROWTH TO retired, he suggested we reach out to them and things, like growing grain corn, barley, soybean, they’ve been offering their guidance and helping clover and alfalfa. us improve ever since.” “Perennia checks in every two weeks, and they’re From changing rations to better quality silage, always there to bounce ideas off of. We have great changing the cows’ stall dimensions, the neck rail relationships with these people who are experts in FOLLY heights and getting more lights in the barn, each their fields,” he said. “When we have problems, we little change recommended helped productivity. can call, get opinions, and having them as part of our team makes our decisions a lot easier. Perennia “The more comfortable the cows are, the better will be in our future for a long time to come.” RIVER production is,” he said. Even when the robots FARM PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 20 When a crop disease began Perennia experts conducted SPURR appearing through their orchard small-scale demonstration in the summer of 2018, Spurr trials. Measurements of tree Brothers Farms Ltd. asked Perennia performance were also taken, to get to the root of the problem. which allowed results to be BROTHERS quantified and treatment options TACKLED REPLANTING ISSUES IN The mixed fruit and vegetable to be recommended. farm in Kingston, Nova Scotia ORCHARDS THROUGH PERENNIA was dealing with replant disease. What Spurr Brothers also realized This occurs when a plant is was that this was a problem replaced with the same type, but facing more orchards in the area. the new plant does not thrive or “It’s an issue facing all growers grow properly. in the Annapolis Valley. So this preliminary work helps guide “A couple years back I put in decisions when we put together a planting, which was mostly a larger trial,” she said. “If we can Honeycrisp apples. The rootstock work toward larger trials and get they were on were supposed to more comprehensive results to “There’s a lot of be tolerant to replant disease.” guide growers, it will be huge for enthusiasm, energy said Lisa Jenereaux, co-owner of the industry.” Spurr Brothers. and knowledge at Lisa said Perennia’s invaluable Perennia. We’re “But the second year, we noticed guidance and research can help a difference in the height of the future growers get things right happy that we can trees, and some of them started to the first time. “There’s a lot of tap into that, and collapse. I was surprised because enthusiasm, energy and knowledge I thought we did everything the at Perennia. We’re happy that we that this resource is way we were supposed to. It was can tap into that, and that this there for us.” also an irrigated site, so it wasn’t resource is there for us.” from stress or lack of moisture.” Lisa is excited about the future With five family members on the of the farm and industry in the farm and 1,000 acres at stake, the Annapolis Valley. She hopes the family wanted to ensure continued work with Perennia will lead to productivity on all their sites for a more healthy crop, and is now orchard, potatoes, onions, carrots looking at the introduction of new and grain crops. technologies. “We’re planning to bring automation into the farm. They went to Perennia for advice We have one platform for apples on how to identify and treat the and we’re looking at getting issue. With Perennia’s support, another. We’re also looking at a they began trials in the orchard robotic weeder, which would help to determine which treatments us by saving on costs.” would be most effective.
21 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 22 In 2018-19, our seafood development specialists undertook developmental projects, travelled several thousand miles meeting with and connecting with SEAFOOD processors and harvesters and making presentations PROGRAMS AND SERVICES to create awareness about Perennia services for the seafood sector.
Perennia’s Seafood team undertakes development NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES projects on behalf of the Province of Nova AND AQUACULTURE MINISTER’S Scotia, develops projects with industry and works CONFERENCE closely with Perennia’s Quality and Food Safety, and Product Development teams on consulting A key event for the industry is the annual Nova Scotia projects with seafood businesses. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister’s Conference. This was the 21st year for the conference and Perennia was the event organizer. As such we worked closely with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) staff and the Minister, the Honourable Keith Colwell, to design and execute the event. In three years, it has expanded from 125 attendees to more than 400 this year, with over 50 trade show booths at the new Halifax Convention Centre. The conference featured breakout sessions for the first time and covered topics such as currency and how it affects profit, succession planning and information on how statements in the media can affect profit.
Based on surveys at the conference: • 84 per cent rated the trade show as very good to excellent
• Conference attendees indicated the number one reason they attend is to learn new information;
• 92 per cent of survey respondents rated the speakers as very good to excellent; and
• 100 per cent rated the conference as very good to excellent
23 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 24 CENTRE FOR MARINE APPLIED RESEARCH The Centre for Marine Applied Research (CMAR) was established to focus on areas of research and collaboration to propel the NSDFA’s aquaculture growth strategy forward.
In 2018-19, CMAR continued to develop its ongoing biophysical data collection project involving the deployment and monitoring of sensors in the coastal waters of Nova Scotia. This information is being collected with the intention of supporting science-based decision- making in the optimal development of our coastal resource. Over the past year, CMAR has continued to expand sensor coverage along the coast of Nova Scotia. CMAR currently maintains over forty deployed subsurface sensor stations from St. Mary’s Bay to Lennox Passage. The Coastal Monitoring Program incorporates equipment from Realtime Aquaculture and Vemco.
In early 2019, CMAR initiated a nearshore ice monitoring and analysis project in partnership with the Nova Scotia Community College Applied Geomatics Research Group. The purpose of the project is to conduct research on best practices for mapping and monitoring nearshore ice in coastal Nova Scotia. In the initial phase of this project in the winter of 2019, four study areas were identified and satellite imagery, UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and helicopter imagery was collected. Historical LOBSTER AUTOMATION QUALITY CRITERIA FOR CATCH TO PLATE PROJECT SEAFOOD ACCELERATOR data for the four areas was also compiled and analyzed. PROJECT FROZEN LOBSTER Perennia also signed a Memorandum PROGRAM In collaboration with NSDFA and aquaculture industry of Understanding with Université Our specialists, in partnership with an Perennia’s seafood development This fiscal year, we developed a representatives, CMAR has partnered in a collaborative Sainte-Anne and began work with engineering firm, continued work on a specialists and members of the food proposal for a Seafood Accelerator exposure modeling project to quantify the wave and them and the North Bay Fisherman’s lobster automation project to develop safety team developed quality criteria Program to support the export current climate around coastal Nova Scotia. In the Co-op on the next phase of the Catch a prototype to quickly estimate the for frozen lobster in conjunction with potential of seafood products. winter of 2018-19, CMAR undertook an initial campaign to Plate Project, a quality handling and meat fullness of live lobster. Full meat the Province’s live lobster quality If approved, this program will of Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler deployments in holding initiative for live lobster. lobsters are a premium product and standards. This is part of a larger project support seafood business order to collect data for the first winter storm season also are able to withstand transport Perennia is involved with along with the in adopting internationally- of this two-year project. Storm activity can vary in its times to Europe and Asia in top Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries recognized food safety programs scale, severity, predictability and intensity depending quality condition for international and Aquaculture on the implementation to open new markets, and develop on the time of year and location along various coastal clients. Work will continue on this of quality seafood programs linked to value-added products with an regions of the province. This project will provide robust project into 2019-20. the use of the province’s seafood logo emphasis on using by-products to modeling and validation to better inform storm planning by seafood companies. create higher margin products. and aquaculture siting, and will have applicability for aquaculture industry, municipalities, and other marine users in affected coastal regions.
25 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 26 ATLANTIC SEA CUCUMBER INC. REACHES INTERNATIONAL SHELVES When Songwen (Sam) Gao immigrated from Perennia’s guidance in 2018 in meeting audit Shanghai, China in 2012, he never imagined his and safety requirements was the impetus to new home in Hackett’s Cove, Nova Scotia would expanding globally. also be the inspiration for his new business. Atlantic Canada is the only place sea cucumbers, “Perennia has very professional a part of the mollusc family, can be caught in the staff who assisted and guided wild and Sam knew they were a delicacy in Asian markets. Widely thrown away by local fishermen, us to complete the new product Sam’s plan to cook, dry, then export the delicacies from start to finish,” said Sam. would fulfill an untapped market niche. Now, Atlantic Sea Cucumber Inc. is going after a He inched closer to his dream when he teamed large volume global supply that would skyrocket up with Perennia to have his product sold by the market for their product. The first shipment an international food retailer. Perennia experts of 7,500 lbs of sea cucumber shipped to Asian helped them with the company’s food safety audit. markets in May. The company expects this to After scoring a 97 per cent, Sam was in business. increase more than ten-fold to almost 100,000 lbs Thanks to Perennia, he had made it through by September. the rigorous safety and inspection process for exporting his sea cucumbers and is now selling As they prepare to export sea cucumber into Nova Scotia sea cucumbers online across Canada China, Japan and Australia, the help they received through a major retailer. from Perennia has prepared them for even greater success. They currently operate seasonally but Sam and Perennia worked together again to expect to be running year-round soon and to grow implement a Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program, beyond their current complement of 17 employees. which would allow Sam to export globally. The SQF is a high-standard food certification that Sam is still amazed that Nova Scotia’s sea cucumbers began in Australia and is highly-regarded around have attracted attention from buyers around the the world. This means Sam’s product will soon be world and expects to continue to work with Perennia on shelves in New York and California. to research more value-added products.
PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 28 QUALITY AND
FOOD SAFETY PUBLIC FOOD SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Perennia had a successful public food safety training program, hosting nine public training sessions for the In 2018-19, Perennia’s Quality and Food Safety Team food processing industry including HACCP I, HACCP II, undertook consulting projects in a variety of sectors Principles of Internal Auditing, Food Safety Preventive including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy (cheese), Controls Alliance (FSPCA), British Retail Consortium bakery, dry spices, poultry slaughter and processing, (BRC) Conversion and BRC Understanding. Perennia pet food, beverage (kombucha), beer, water, staff led five of the nine sessions. In total, 63 people seafood and more. attended the eight courses as registered participants with 17.5 per cent of represented companies from the seafood sector.
QUALITY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT In conjunction with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA), Perennia worked on the Nova Scotia Seafood Quality Branding Project to develop frozen lobster quality criteria for five product categories frozen High Pressure Processed (HPP), frozen cooked shucked lobster meat, frozen cooked in shell, frozen blanched in shell, frozen raw lobster.
INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT The team was also instrumental in leading the development of new content under Perennia’s Agri- Food Accelerator Program, including a comprehensive 40+ page guide “Safe4Market – A primary producers, processors and storage operators guide to quality and food safety.”
29 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 30 HEALTHY BERRIES RIPE FOR THE PICKING When Peter Kohler could no longer To deliver a high-level and high-end Atlantic Canadian stores shelves by get his favourite berry puree because product to consumers, the company June. The BRCGS certification also the company closed, he bought it, looked to Perennia for guidance allowed Healthy Berries to launch bringing Healthy Berries Inc. back with an analysis to determine their product outside of Canada. to life. Seeing the opportunity to facility strengths and weaknesses. They sent their first order into Asian use wild PEI blueberries to create With Perennia’s help, they decided market approximately a month and a a Superfruit Purée, he hired Alison on certification in the BRC Global half after certification was achieved. Carver as the General Manager. Standards (BRCGS food safety program, formerly the British Retail “Achieving certification “Healthy Berries knows the value of Consortium). BRCGS was developed ‘nothing added, nothing taken away’, by retailers and is used by all types through our which is evident in our product,” said of organizations. It’s a market collaboration with Alison. “While many competitors leading global brand that helps build remove the fruit’s healthiest parts, we confidence in the supply chain. Perennia gave our understood that the right technology company and product would set us apart.” “Perennia helped Healthy Berries reach our food safety program creditability with By utilizing TEKMASH technology, the goals. From management to expert retailers and distributors entire berry is included in the puree perspectives, and knowing the product – the juice, peel, seed, and answers to our questions, we felt the across the country, and pulp. This process yields no waste. pressure subside as we brought our now the world.” TEKMASH breaks down the organic product to market,” said Alison. material, making the berries’ natural nutrition more readily absorbed by This achievement was an incredible the body. The result is a ready-to- asset to the company, helping drink purée with over 850 Canadian Healthy Berries stand out in the wild blueberries in every bottle. retail market. With their BRCGS certification, they’ve garnered a high Knowing they had something unique, level of respect and credibility from the team at Healthy Berries had to industry professionals. determine the best way to bring their product to market through a food As a result of the BRCGS certification, safety program, but was unsure which Sobeys has given Healthy Berries the one to choose. green light to put their product in
PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 32 AGRI-FOOD ACCELERATOR PROGRAM AGRI-FOOD ACCELERATOR PROGRAM • CanadaGAP workshops were held and well attended in two areas of the province. Mid-way through the fiscal year, Perennia received the exciting news that the Product Development • The food regulatory specialist made over 3,000 and Market Access Accelerator Program (Agri- contacts with clients via phone calls, in-person, Food Accelerator Program) would be funded by email, meetings, sample visits, and onsite work. the provincial and federal governments through the More than 600 analyses were carried out through Canadian Agricultural Partnership. a variety of labs to ensure the safety of food in Nova Scotia. The focus of this program is to: • Five applications were received and approved • support access to new markets through skills under the Food Safety Obstacles to New Markets development and information, as well as food part of the program. One is pending, one client safety support, analytical testing and training to has not moved ahead with their project and three meet scientific, retailer and market expectations have been completed: CanadaGAP coaching for safe food; and for a greenhouse vegetable operation; a • support successful commercialization of Nova microgreens salad operation; and a general gap Scotia agricultural-based products through assessment for a meat operation. activities such as skills development, market • Two projects were undertaken in the Market feasibility studies, product development, Feasibility - Product and Packaging Validation production of prototypes, and scale up of component. The first was a confidential client food production. project using production methods new to the client (a winery) and packaging not previously Activities undertaken in the first year of this used in North America. The second project (wine three-year program included: gummies) was undertaken by the Innovation • A food safety technician was hired, and a food Centre as a demonstration of the types of safety resource page was created and populated projects that can be completed at the Innovation with fact sheets, videos and links to reputable Centre with clients. information sources for food entrepreneurs. Selected factsheets are being hosted on the • Under the Technical Obstacles component of the Farm Markets of Nova Scotia vendor resource program a solution has been worked out for a page as well. client (Phase 1). A second project was approved and will go ahead next fiscal if the client wishes • Safe4Market – A primary producers, processors to proceed. and storage operators guide to quality and food safety was produced. Nearly 500 copies have The New Product Creator portion of the program been distributed. had some notable successes. A new wine product was released by a client and a series of fruit spritzers was developed and released.
33 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 34 BROOK RIDGE FARM BRINGING LOCALLY-SOURCED LAMB POT PIES INTO MARKET
“I will be able to sell from my home, in small retail shops, and at unique businesses."
When Rhonda McCarron introduced her she wanted to sell them in more markets The ProductSAFE program under we make the pies from scratch,” said From the day Perennia’s experts came lamb pot pies at the Antigonish Farmers’ but nutritional labels on the pies were Perennia’s Agri-Food Accelerator Program Rhonda. “I will be able to sell from my to her home-based business to review Market, they were a big hit. required before she could make that leap. included support for their Nutrition Facts home, in small retail shops, and at unique ingredients and processing steps for Table and regulatory guidance services. businesses. And maybe we’ll sell to the pies, she’s been impressed with Two years ago, Brook Ridge Farm, owned “Nutritional labeling allows us to move Farmers and food companies using locally restaurants in the future. With Perennia’s their knowledge. by Rhonda and her husband Ian, began into different markets, but it also confirms grown food ingredients are eligible for help, we’ve been able to really move making the pies with locally-sourced product quality for all our customers,” she this support. Guidance and development forward with this venture.” “They set me up to go in this new ingredients. said. “Our customers will know, based on of a Nutrition Facts Table opened the direction and we are working together well. those labels, that we undergo the same doors for Brook Ridge Farm to sell in new With 250 ewes, they will have lambed The specialists are there for us and it’s a “They really caught on. We were cooking process with the same vegetables, same retail markets. more than 400 lambs this year. Rhonda positive working relationship.” in the winter, spring and summer making broth, and same crust with each pie. says they’re still sheep farmers first, but five-inch, cook-from-frozen pies,” said That’s comforting for people to know.” “Our lamb is local. We source our now also have this new venture. Rhonda. As the pies gained in popularity, vegetables and herbs locally and
35 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 36 HILL’S JAMAICAN JERK SAUCE FINDS HOME IN SOBEYS STORES
When Paul Hill moved to Halifax from his mother has a store, he was overcome it only took eight months before his sauce was on the shelves Paul’s vision for the facility has opened up opportunities for the Caribbean, there were two things he with a savoury smell and discovered it was of 22 Sobeys locations. other food producers too. As the only facility of its kind in missed: the weather and the food. So he pimento. He took some home, put it in his the area, he happily works with others on their products began to focus on the one thing he could jerk sauce and it totally changed the flavour. Outgrowing his home kitchen, he began building a new 1,172 and co-packaging. “They helped actually change. square food kitchen facility. Key to a successful expansion was us pass the “This was a turning point for me,” he said. getting Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Before the new kitchen and HACCP certification, Paul’s “I had been making jerk sauce for a long “My friends always encouraged me to sell certification, which would open up markets across Canada. sights were set on Sobeys. With that achieved, he now has certification, which time and when I moved to Canada in the sauce and after that trip home, I began That’s when he approached Perennia. higher ambitions. will help us expand 1994 I began making it for friends and to take that idea seriously.” family,” he said. “It constantly evolved as I “The Perennia team helped with the building specs, sourced “Our next goal is to get the product across Canada. Then throughout Canada experimented with ingredients. Five years Paul, owner of Hill’s Jamaican Jerk, carries products, advised me on things I knew nothing about, like I’d love to export my product to Jamaica, the US and the and the world.” ago I went back to Jamaica and that’s when medium and hot jerk sauces, and now three materials for walls and floors, and they did the product testing UK. I wouldn’t have these aspirations if it wasn’t for the things changed.” different barbecue sauce flavours. He began and labeling,” he said. “They helped us pass the certification, experts at Perennia.” small and home-based. But when his sauce which will help us expand throughout Canada and the world.” While in the market in Montego Bay where was introduced to Pete’s Frootique in 2016,
37 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 38 PRODUCT AND PROCESS NUTRITION FACTS TABLES DEVELOPMENT Perennia Innovation Centre staff also The team at the Perennia Food and provided 56 Nutrition Facts Tables (NFT) PRODUCT Beverage Innovation Centre led several for various products and ingredients such large product and process development as: jams, jellies, sauces, pickles, BBQ sauce, DEVELOPMENT projects including: three plant protein kimchi, beverages, cheese, herbs, dried sea based treats that included none of the cucumber, and more. The determination PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of an NFT is required as a client advances listed allergens, a novel fruit based product sales to larger retail venues. The team at the Perennia Food and Beverage smoothie containing significant protein, Innovation Centre works with agri-food and seafood a carbonated no sugar added fruit based INDUSTRY TECHNICAL SUPPORT companies to provide the following services: drink, three alcoholic beverage flavourings In 2018-19, the Centre’s team provided product and process development, value addition with a local distillery, and a fermented cider several instances of technical support and commercialization, nutritional labelling, prepared with locally available juice as a to satisfy Health Canada and CFIA laboratory services, regulatory advice, ideation health benefit. requirements for the food industry. This and concept design, and incubating new start-up includes nutritional analysis, water activity companies leasing space. SENSORY RESEARCH and pH measurement, microbiology with Perennia collaborated with the Acadia funding assistance from the Nova Scotia Centre for the Sensory Research, Wild Department of Agriculture (NSDA) provided Blueberry Producers of Nova Scotia, and for approximately 56 different clients. Nova Scotia juice producers and bottling companies to complete and ensure SHELF LIFE AND SENSORY commercialization activities. A trouble- STUDIES shooting project with a blueberry industry For the seafood industry the team at the company examined a technical problem Food and Beverage Innovation Centre causing separation of product and is worked with several fish and lobster clients ongoing into 2019-20. Another ongoing to develop quotes for shelf life and sensory project examines alternative uses for a studies. A lobster processing company sweetener and will be literature-based with was provided with equipment and trained some process and product development by staff to evaluate a new process and for a company located in New Brunswick. product that enabled increased export capacity. A sea cucumber client has utilized DETERMINING SHELF STABILITY both the food scientist and received In 2018-19, staff determined shelf stability regulatory advice from staff to move their of three flavored maple syrups, blueberry products to commercialization. sauces and puree, six different flavoured energy balls, a dried fish product using an all-natural preservative, donair sauce, hemp powder, alcoholic tea beverages, and artificial lobster bait. The determination of shelf life is often required as a client grows out of the farmer’s market arena and into more commercial facilities. The shelf-life provides a “best before” date.
39 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 40 MOBILE BEVERAGE SERVICES Perennia was pleased to receive funding in 2018 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to build a unique mobile filtration unit that will service the Nova Scotia wine and cider sectors beginning autumn 2019. All items, including trailer, filtration system and engineer design team have been tendered and awarded is anticipated to be completed by end of June 2019. The main objective of using the cross-flow (also known as tangential flow filtration) microfiltration (CFMF) line is the economic and efficient clarifying filtration of cider, wine and sparkling wine by means of the tangential flow principle.
The mobile still wine bottling trailer serviced three wineries this fiscal year, with repeat business provided to two of the wineries. In total, the mobile wine bottling trailer NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL INDUSTRY TENANT GROWTH completed 65,292 bottles (5,441 RESEARCH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Food and Beverage Innovation Centre graduated the cases) with either a screw cap or Perennia Food and Agriculture holds a National Research following tenants in 2018-19: Agseed Technologies Inc., Pure cork closure, and many different Council Industry Research Assistance program, Contribution Paint, TruLeaf Sustainable Agriculture Ltd., and Cannahort varieties of red, white and rose to Organization Agreement to assist with a technical problem Agriculture Ltd. The graduation of these start-up companies wines from Nova Scotia wineries. for an individual company and to provide a technical solution. is encouraging as it means they have outgrown the Centre The unit is capable of offering a full In 2018-19 the Centre assisted six companies move their and are moving towards further commercialization and bottling service including rinsing, production and/or process development forward, including: economic development. filling, capping/corking, capsule formulation and shelf life of lobster bait; production of spray dispensing and labelling at speeds dried fermented blueberry cider; spray dried hemp oil; of up to 1,500 bottles per hour. seaweed analysis for commercial use; herbs as a replacement This development project will allow for hops; and shelf life and sensory analysis of energy bites for the industry to bottle their wine increased commercial distribution. conveniently and in large volumes over short periods of time without the need to invest in their own bottling infrastructure.
41 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 42 Avondale Sky Winery was trying along, it would have taken to meet overwhelming demand six days to bottle our Tidal for their wines in summer 2017. Bay wine, so supplying the liquor store with an order was They had the tenacity and becoming a real challenge. But the popular product, but the now we can do 11,000 bottles Newport Landing location of wine, capped and labelled in realized bottling it was a a day-and-a-half with Perennia’s challenge. It was something mobile bottling unit.” wine-maker Ben Swetnam wanted to remedy. He says their solution The winery began growing grapes helped him and many in 1987 and shortly after Ben came on board in 2008, the new other wineries in the owners decided they wanted to area. “Perennia has produce wine. This was followed been great to work by a winery that opened in 2011 and a restaurant that was with. Everyone there AVONDALE launched five years later. is so kind and patient With all the innovation, the and we’re always Niagara College wine-making finding solutions grad began to look at ways SKY WINERY to grow the business. “The together,” he said. wine industry has been quite FINDS A MOBILE successful, and I suppose we Ben is now looking forward to the SOLUTION grew faster than we planned,” he mobile cross-flow filtration system said. “Bottling equipment is really Perennia has coming this year. expensive and to invest $1-million TO BOTTLING WARES “For filtering and bottling, this in a 4-to-6 week bottling practice means we can be so much more would have been really difficult.” efficient. Normally we can’t Ben knew Perennia specialists bottle until April or May. With through industry events and this crossflow system, that can found out they had a mobile happen so much sooner,” he bottling truck to help local said. “We can bottle cleaner wineries with bottling. and more stable wine several months ahead of where we’d “This is an incredible service be otherwise. Avondale is really for emerging and established looking forward to it.” wineries. Before Perennia came
43 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 44 They may not be your traditional “They’re just fantastic. When I chicken or tuna pet treats, but Joy have questions about nutrition or Hillier found the perfect protein anything scientific, they are my alternative in crickets for Midgard go-to,” she said. “It’s the most Insect Farm’s line of natural pet positive business relationship I’ve treats and supplements. had during my time at Midgard. They even connected me to a In attempting to address food venture capitalist interested in stability and the need to focus the protein.” less on cattle, chicken and traditional animals, Joy, founder Recently Joy partnered with and CEO of Midgard Insect Farm Perennia to complete a growth in Windsor, Nova Scotia, utilized and reproductive study using her background in veterinary different wavelengths of LED science to research sustainable light. Together they designed and protein alternatives. conducted the experiment in her tenant space at the Innovation “We will move She began her research in 2015 Centre in Truro. Also Joy worked and found that crickets were a with Perennia to document and to a commercial good source of protein for pets, implement a Food Safety Program model and begin aquaculture and even humans. to gain Feed Assure Certification. “Sustainable proteins are needed selling in the and crickets are a valuable Although the company is next year” alternative,” she said. “The pre-revenue and still in the sustainability of raising them, the research stage, Joy says having bioavailability of the protein itself, the Perennia team on board and the amount of other nutrients constantly pushes her to move in found in crickets are all reasons to a positive direction. use them.” “They’re always on board and Excited by the idea of turning her their staff are always excited idea into a product, Joy looked to to see us and work with us,” Perennia for their expertise and she said. “We will move to a rented space in their Innovation commercial model and begin Centre in Truro to develop her selling in the next year and the product. She says the Perennia knowledge we’ve gained from team’s depth of knowledge was Perennia will help us become a MAKING key to moving her idea along the revenue-generating business.” product development chain. INTOCRICKETS PET TREATS AND SUPPLEMENTS
PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 46 NO SUGAR, Nova Scotia Spirit Company looked west to find Their initial ask to Perennia was to help them put inspiration for their new line of sugar-free Blue the two distinct lemon and lime flavours together to Lobster vodka sodas. British Columbia alcohol make an amazing product. producers were already in the burgeoning business NO PROBLEM: of ready-to-drink products and Spirit Co. co-founder “We didn’t have a formulation at this stage. They Alex Rice wanted to follow suit. helped us make those natural flavours work in BLUE LOBSTER COOLERS FIND TASTE concert,” he said. “We grew in-house at such a fast Alex and Dan Allen founded the company five years pace that we had to outsource these opportunities ago, and along with their first employee and now to develop flavour. That’s where Perennia has been partner, Evan MacEachern, began producing their incredible. They had such a precise scope of work, ‘1929’ brew exclusively for their client Bishop’s Cellar. and are constantly helping us with ideas, samples and giving us a look at future flavours.” “We are sugar, gluten and carb Perennia also supported Nova Scotia Spirit Company free. We don’t throw preservatives to develop beyond its existing resources and grow in and we worked harder to make the brand and products for customers. Perennia is currently helping develop a blueberry-lemon vodka these taste great,” said Alex. soda, made from 100 per cent wild Nova Scotia blueberry juice. The brand launched into the top space when the company started selling at NSLCs across the “We hope to have these products launched in the province. The beverages sold out across NSLC stores coming months and to be working on a library of for most of the summer, indicating the popularity of new flavours for years,” Alex said. Blue Lobster. They’ve maintained their momentum with a successful pre-summer launch in PEI and have While Alex is focused on summer sales first, he sees plans for Ontario and New Brunswick. moving into Ontario as a big future play. With 250 LCBO stores taking the Blue Lobster product in May, Alex credits their partnership with Perennia in he’s set to tap into that market. helping them break through the ready-to-drink product market with their lemon-lime flavour, Blue “With Perennia’s help, we’re going to be able to Lobster Vodka Soda. Perennia was on board to help capitalize on Ontario’s affinity for the East Coast. We when Alex first approached them with a need to want to be a Canadian success story, and we’re well develop a flavour profile and recipe for his soda. on our way.”
PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 48 What do you get when an award Recognizing Perennia’s work in winning chef and food product the food and beverage industry, developer decides to go into Viveau looked for their guidance business with a trailblazing winery on technical aspects to get their owner? A simply delicious and product shelf-stable at room purely Canadian beverage. temperature storage.
“We created our business because “I have a background as a Michelin there was a gap in the market for Star chef and a food product a healthy, flavored beverage,” said developer, but needed support Ted Grant, President & Co-founder with shelf-life testing,” said Ted. of Viveau. “We wanted to create a “Perennia advised us on the food low-sugar, low-fructose, flavoured science aspect and helped us carbonated beverage and were adhere to bottling regulations.” committed to health in a bottle.” With strict measures in the The result is a two or three- Canadian Food Inspection ingredient, yet fully flavourful blend Agency (CFIA), BRC Global VIVEAU’S of fresh-pressed fruit and sparkling Standards (formerly British Retail mineral water. The beverage is Consortium) and other levels based on a popular European drink of certification, Ted said that SIMPLY called Schorle, which combines Perennia helped them put the apple juice and mineral water. right processes in place and establish production flow. DELICIOUS Ted and his business partner “We came to them with the Hanspeter Stutz recognized the product formulation and are strength of Schorle in the rise now shelf-stable and following of the foodie culture and the industry guidelines.” BEVERAGE trend toward healthier food and beverage options. They decided Viveau is now jumping in with to put a Canadian twist on the both feet and picking up steam READY TO SPRING INTO MARKET German-style beverage. in domestic and global markets. They’re establishing commitment Proudly Nova Scotian, Viveau from buyers in Asia and are on is committed to sourcing local their way to landing agreements ingredients from the province’s with Sobeys, Sysco Canada growers. “We take fruits from the and Costco. Viveau is now Annapolis Valley and Oxford-area jumping in with blueberries combined with purely- “It’s not easy to take an idea Canadian mineral water to create or concept and turn it into a both feet and something healthy, refreshing and commercialized product,” said Ted. picking up steam simply delicious,” said Ted. “But as entrepreneurs, you have to be stargazers – and we are.” in domestic and The product is set to provide a global markets. boost to two co-packing facilities in the region, supporting employees at both locations and at Nova Scotian farms.
49 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 50 CANNABIS ANALYTICAL TESTING
This year, Perennia (under the banner Bloom Labs) obtained the first and only Health Canada granted Cannabis Analytical Testing Licence in Nova Scotia. We were able to hire two full-time employees to help with method development and testing, and developed marketing materials for the lab. The lab team also did validation tests for Health Canada required quality assurance tests along with some other non-mandated ‘luxury’ tests for growers. BLOOM LABS In March 2018, the Innovation Centre staff assisted Bloom Labs in the development of microbiological methods for the quality assurance analytical testing facility for cannabis producers. The Centre now holds a Health Canada certified level II Biohazard Microbiological Laboratory designation and can test for specific pathogens as required by Health Canada for cannabis products. With this certification the lab has a capability for increased growth for conducting pathogen analysis.
Bloom Labs expected to be a full quality assurance testing facility by April 2019, with plans for the whole team at the Centre to be ready to provide cannabis edibles and drinkables solutions for companies in 2019-20.
51 PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT PERENNIA FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INC. 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT 52 PERENNIA FOOD AND BEVERAGE OFFICE LOCATIONS INNOVATION CENTRE 32 Main Street, 199 Dr. Bernie MacDonald 173 Dr. Bernie MacDonald Drive, Kentville, Nova Scotia Drive, Bible Hill, Bible Hill, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5 Nova Scotia B6L 2H5 B6L 2H5
Phone: 902-678-7722 Phone: 902-896-0277 Phone: 902-896-8782 Fax: 902-678-7266 Fax: 902-896-7299 Fax: 902-896-8781 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
WWW.PERENNIA.CA
@nsperennia