A big grant for a community hub in Dartmouth to help launch their very first social enterprise.

Through the East Coast Credit Union, The North Grove has received $40,000, for Primrose Preserves.

Executive Director Laura Horne tells us, it’s a program they have been building for a number of years now.

“This is really a chance for us to take it to the next level,” says Horne. “So, we’re really excited about that.”

What is Primrose Preserves?

It started as a simple idea 10 years ago.

“When we opened our community food centre, there were crab apple trees growing outside,” explains Horne. “We decided to start a program taking those apples and turning them into preserves.”

“We started giving them away as gifts. People started asking us, ‘how can we buy these?'” says Horne.

This, Horne says, led to the program they have today, creating more opportunity for community members of all ages to get involved.

Now, once a month, on a Friday afternoon, a group makes everything from salsa to strawberry rhubard jam.

“My personal favorite is the spice tomato chutney. I think it’s very unique. I’ve had the opportunity to take something as a gift for family and things, they’ve loved it,” says Horne.

What will they do with the money?

With any new startup, Horne says, there is a business plan. With the $40,000, they plan to build on that.

In addition, they want to offer opportunities for everyone from youth to seniors to not only help make, jar and label the preserves, but sell them too.

Horne says the idea of a social enterprise is a nice next step.

“Just having the opportunity to understand how food is produced and where it goes from there, in the whole food system.”