OXFORD, Nova Scotia – The federal government has announced $1.5 million in assistance to the wild blueberry industry to develop international markets for the crop.

The funding is going to the Canadian component of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America, an industry group.

Bill Casey, a member of Parliament, made the announcement Thursday on behalf of Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl. The goal is to provide “new economic opportunities for farm families,” he said.

Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of wild blueberries, with the industry largely concentrated in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Last year, Canada exported more than 100 million pounds of frozen wild blueberries valued at $154.6 million to 25 export markets.

Maine growers last year harvested 58.4 million pounds of blueberries.