Features Fruit Production
Study says P.E.I.’s farms need major change to remain financially viable

February 2, 2009, Charlottetown, PEI – Prince Edward Island’s
agricultural sector must embrace major change or be swallowed by an
aggressive world market, say the authors of a public commission on the
industry.

February 2, 2009, Charlottetown, PEI – Prince Edward Island’s agricultural sector must embrace major change or be swallowed by an aggressive world market, say the authors of a public commission on the industry.

The third and final report of the Commission on the Future of Agriculture was released January 29.

The report gives 14 specific recommendations for immediate and long-term action, including measures to help make the sector more self-sustaining and financially viable.

It also maps out a systematic way to change industry practices to achieve higher revenues.

The report says in order to do this, producers and processors need to develop better knowledge of what the market wants, and must change to adapt to those demands.

It states that for a small Island like P.E.I., all signs point to organic, value-added products as the way to go for a viable future.