The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, has announced that applications for the 2020 Vegetable Transplant Program and 2020 Asparagus Crown Program are open to commercial vegetable producers.
These programs provide eligible farmers with high-quality vegetable transplants and asparagus crowns to increase the variety of produce grown in Newfoundland and Labrador, and promote higher marketable yields, early harvest, and earlier returns. The Provincial Government is also researching best management practices for these crops, focusing on increased production and greater profitability.
The Vegetable Transplant Program provided 1.7 million vegetable transplants to 54 commercial farmers in 2019, compared to 255,800 transplants distributed to 25 farmers in 2018. Crop varieties include broccoli, cabbage, onion, kohlrabi, Brussels sprout, kale, leek, cauliflower, and rutabaga, all grown at the Wooddale Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Development in Grand Falls-Windsor. Farmers and new entrants demonstrating strong compliance with the 2019 program will be given highest priority for future allocations.
This initiative advances the Provincial Government’s plans to develop a stronger economic foundation and increase food self-sufficiency by at least 20 per cent by 2022, as outlined in The Way Forward. Support for agriculture also delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the economy and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
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“I am pleased to once again offer producers the opportunity to avail of the popular Vegetable Transplant Program, and to introduce the Asparagus Crown Program for the 2020 growing season. Ongoing research to address the challenges of Newfoundland and Labrador’s cool, short growing season has been a primary focus in our efforts to improve crop diversity and production in the province, and eligible farmers are invited to once again avail of this opportunity in 2020 to support food self-sufficiency here at home.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Fisheries and Land Resources
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Learn more
2020 Vegetable Transplant Program Guide 
2020 Vegetable Transplant Program Application
2020 Asparagus Program Application
The Way Forward on Agriculture
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Media contact
Linda Skinner
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca