REIDVILLE, NL – A new pilot project has been announced that will allow new and existing farmers interested in growing fruit and vegetables for commercial sale to lease Crown land that has already been prepared for that purpose.
The property, located on Rocky Brook Road in the Town of Reidville, contains approximately 71.66 acres, almost half of which is ready for agriculture development now, with the rest to be completed this spring.
The provincial government purchased the land under the Provincial Agriculture Land Consolidation Program in 2016.
The province has set a goal to raise food self-sufficiency by at least 20 per cent by 2022.
“In order to reach our goal of food self-sufficiency it is critical that issues around access to land are addressed,” Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne said in a news release.
“Additionally, making land that has initial preparations already completed available allows new entrant farmers to become profitable earlier.”
Applicants interested in leasing land in the Town of Reidville are required to submit a proposal. New entrants to the vegetable sector will be given preference.
Proposals must be received by Friday, March 9 at 4:30 p.m.
Details on the proposal process can be found at www.faa.gov.nl.ca/agrifoods/land/obtaining_land/requests_for_proposals.html.
