The history of the lowbush blueberry industry in Nova Scotia 1950-1990

Abstract

In Kinsman’s second book, “The history of the lowbush blueberry industry in Nova Scotia 1950-1990”, he describes how the province pioneered the cultivation and management of the wild blueberry industry. He sums the development of the trade up best in his own words: The North American lowbush blueberry is a very special commodity. It is special in that it provides revenue from abandoned farm land or land that in many instances would otherwise be unproductive; it is special; in the unique way it is managed as a crop; and it is special in the way that it is the basis for a single industry that straddles the international border between Canada and the United States (Kinsman, p. 1). The author illustrates the processes involved in producing the highest yields of wild blueberries in Nova Scotia, which have made the farming of this crop an exact science. Some of the topics covered in this volume include: • Classification of blueberry plants • Design & development cultivation techniques • Environmental issues: insect & disease control • Research (including tables & figures) • Grower’s organizations Kinsman conveys the importance of the development of the blueberry industry in Nova Scotia resulting in the sustainability of one of the leading agricultural markets in Atlantic Canada.