The Nova Scotia Institutional Procurement Initiative

The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, with support from Perennia, is continuing their work in getting more local food into public institutions, such as schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and more. This program provides resources, expertise and support to help local food and beverage businesses enter the institutional market if it is right for their company.

The IDEA Program gives funding to assist and prepare farmers, food and beverage processors, food distribution hubs and packers to enter the institutional food market, and supports public institutions in Nova Scotia to procure more local foods in their food programs. This program focuses on funding equipment and support to assist in successfully securing contracts and get more local foods in public institutions.

Contact Information

Krista Tobin
Manager, Institutional Procurement
Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
902-221-7488
krista.tobin@novascotia.ca

Ryan Corrigan
Institutional Procurement Development Officer
Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation
902-670-0716
rcorrigan@perennia.ca

Resources

Did you know?

Between 2023 and early 2025, the Department of Agriculture supported 19 pilot projects aimed at enhancing institutional procurement across schools, hospitals, long-term care homes, and correctional facilities. On average, these pilots led to a more than 8% increase in local food purchases.

The Department launched five pilot projects in public schools, delivering healthy, nutritious meals featuring Nova Scotia–grown products to over 13,000 students.

Through support to local food hubs and suppliers, a growing number of products are already making their way to provincial institutions – like beef, juice, and vegetable products.

By making small, simple changes to their menus, many institutions have achieved a significant increase in their local spending!