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Photo: Newfoundland Aqua 
Products Inc. 
Food spices produced from kelp.

 

 

Photo: Newfoundland Aqua 
Products Inc. 
Processing of local kelp resource.

AGRIFOODS

Sales of locally produced agrifoods such as poultry, dairy, and floriculture and nursery products have risen in recent years as local farmers have improved their marketing. In addition, as consumers become more health conscious, producers are beginning to focus on emerging markets for natural products such as organic foods, natural nutritional supplements and medicinal herbs.

Farm cash receipts in the Province in 1999 reached $78 million, an increase of 5.4% from 1998. Growth was broadly based, with substantial increases in sales of cattle (27%), floriculture and nursery products (26%) and dairy products (8%). Gardening is becoming more popular in the Province, as evidenced by the 26% increase in sales of floriculture and nursery products to $7.7 million in 1999.

Organic Product Development
Newfoundland and Labrador is recognized throughout the world as having a pristine environment ideal for the production of organic products including medicinal herbs and other nutraceuticals. Production of certified organic foods is growing by over 20% per year in the United States due to increasing concerns about the effects of fertilizers, pesticides and genetically altered foods. Six organic farmers in the Province are certified as high quality producers by the international Organic Crop Improvement Association and another two are seeking certification.

The Province’s wide variety of trees, shrubs, weed herbs, vegetation, ground covers, bog plants and seaweeds is allowing for the commercial production of medicinal herbs and related products. One local company taking advantage of this emerging market is Newfoundland Aqua Products Incorporated (NAPI). Founded in 1996, NAPI manufactures a variety of certified organic products including spices, nutritional supplements, and animal feed from the Province’s abundant kelp resource. Kelp is an excellent source of minerals, such as iodine. Iodine allows for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and aids in the treatment of obesity, heart disease and other health problems. NAPI’s main product is Sea-Vite™ capsules which is the only certified organic kelp nutritional supplement in North America. NAPI is establishing marketing links with distributors across Canada and internationally.