Farmers' perspectives on organic agriculture in Nova Scotia: A follow-up study

This study examines farmers' perspectives on organic agriculture in Nova Scotia. It explores potential sources of obstacles and opportunities for organic farmers, specifically in the areas of marketing, consumers, certification, government, financial issues, labour and access to resources and research. Building on the baseline data found by David Wiebe (1993), a graduate of Dalhousie University's School for Resource and Environmental Studies, this study is a follow-up study, which uses semi-structured interviews with organic farmers to examine the changes in the industry over the past decade and to provide insights into possible future directions. Findings suggest that public perception of organics, government understanding of organics, and access to resources and research have improved since 1993. Opportunities for wholesaling to large supermarket chains have decreased. Factors that have remained relatively unchanged include the willingness of farmers to share information with those in transition, a general preference for direct marketing, and difficulties in making a living from farming.