Ministers MacAulay and Carlier announce $5 million to help grow Calgary agri-food processors Français
CALGARY, July 12, 2017 /CNW/ - The federal and provincial governments are partnering to provide nearly $5 million to help five local food processors expand capacity and improve efficiency so they can grow their businesses.
Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Oniel Carlier, made the announcement today at Village Brewing Co. who is receiving support to add a new canning line and centrifuge to its craft brewery.
These investments help achieve the federal government's plan to create good jobs in food processing and help food processors develop products that reflect changing market tastes and new opportunities.
Quick facts
The agri-food processors in Calgary receiving federal-provincial support include:
- CadCan Marketing & Sales Inc. - to purchase equipment to develop a gluten-free pellet formula for its air-puffed, low-fat and gluten-free snack products.
- H. Hein Foods - To implement new equipment to improve efficiency, expand capacity to meet increased demand and diversify production for poultry, beef and pork products.
- Just BioFiber Structural Solutions - to purchase and install a commercial-scale plant to turn hemp stalks into building material.
- Basha International Foods Inc. (2 grants) - to increase its capacity to debone whole chicken leg meat.
- Village Brewing Co. Ltd. - to add a canning line and centrifuge to its craft brewery.
In 2016, Alberta's value-added sector, including food and processing manufacturing sales, was worth $14.6 billion and was the largest manufacturing employer in the province, representing more than 22,400 jobs.
These grants are made through Growing Forward 2 (GF2). GF2 is a federal-provincial-territorial partnership with a mandate to drive an innovative, competitive and profitable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. In the past five years, Growing Forward 2 has invested more than $406 million in Alberta's agricultural sector.
Quotes
"Agri-business is a key driver of growth in the Canadian economy and a source of well-paying jobs for the middle class. Our government is proud to support these innovative projects that will support Canadian farmers and the broader supply chain through their increased production of value-added agri-food."
- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
"The continued growth and success of our agriculture sector is built on its diversity. Alberta offers a wide range of high-quality products and we are helping get those goods from farm to table by supporting the growth and development of Alberta's food processors, as they create new products and new markets for their products."
- Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
"This funding helps us continue to invest in growing our company by improving our operations, making us more efficient and helping make our products more competitive."
- Steve Anderchek, business manager, Village Brewing Co.
Additional links
- Growing Forward 2 programs in Alberta
- Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture
SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Guy Gallant, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, 613-773-1059; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972; Renato Gandia, [email protected], Press Secretary, Agriculture and Forestry, 780-638-9466
Share this article