High-tech Apple Upgrade at Scotian Gold

With the Dec. 19 opening of a new state-of-the-art pre-sort facility at its Coldbrook (Nova Scotia) operation, Valley icon Scotian Gold Co-operative takes a bold step into the future.

With what Scotian Gold president and CEO David Cudmore described as "a radical change in technology, and in the way apples are graded and sorted," the company embarked on "the largest single investment" in its 50-year history.

The new facility, part of an infrastructure upgrade of more than $6 million, will allow Scotian Gold "to handle more fruit" and double its production capacity "with the same amount of people, and allow for a lot of added efficiencies." This will allow the co-op "to reach more of the local market, and also be more of an influence in markets outside our area."

Cudmore acknowledged the facility's existing packing line, in which all the grading and sorting is done by hand, "has some limitations.

"The new technology will be the first step to all apples being graded here, and placed back into bins by grade and size."

The need for change dates back to 1996, "when we determined growers weren't receiving full value for their crops. Starting that year, our growers took up the challenge and started making significant changes in their orchard systems."

As the main production facility in the area, "we knew we faced a challenge to store, pack and sort twice as many apples as before."

Since 1996, Scotian Gold has greatly increased its controlled atmosphere storage space (in 2000, in 2005 and again in 2007). From 24,000 bins of apples a year in 1996, the company now handles 53,000 bins a year, an increase of more than 100 per cent.

"We're currently at full capacity-with more growth to come," Cudmore said. "This pre-sort facility," representing an investment of $2.3 million, "is the latest key step in the infrastructure changes we have to make" in order to continue to grow and compete.

Scotian Gold could have done none of these improvements without the support of its member-growers, not to mention continued support from all levels of government. Nova Scotia agriculture minister Brooke Taylor, federal Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Keith Ashfield and local MLAs David Morse and Mark Parent were all on hand.

Taylor described Scotian Gold as "a home-grown success story, and a great asset to Nova Scotia's agriculture industry." The provincial government is contributing $3 million to the improvements at Scotian Gold.

Ashfield confirmed "more than $600,000" as part of ACOA's ongoing commitment "to support the company's long-term strategy of innovation," which will, in turn, allow it "to accommodate increased crop volumes, ensuring continued and increased viability."

Morse applauded "the proud history of apple growing here in the Valley"?aan industry that "has gradually been becoming marginalized over the years. Now, through the work of companies like Scotian Gold, it is starting to become more prosperous again.

"It's great that you have a vision that includes everyone in the industry. It's part of a new optimism that just wasn't there, even 10 years ago."

As provincial environment minister, Parent focused on the environmental impacts of the new technology, particularly in terms of water use. Business, he suggested, "has been far ahead of government in seizing opportunities for sustainable economic development. It's a shift in the way we think, but we will be successful, with your help. Even small change can end up making a big difference."