The federal government will inject more than $75,000 into Vista D鈥檕ro Farms to boost its agri-tourism potential.
The money, announced last week by MP Mark Warawa, will create jobs and create new opportunities to meet market demands.
Vista D鈥檕ro, which is located at 346 208 St., will use the money to buy and install new equipment for its micro-processing line.
鈥淥ur government is committed to creating jobs, growth, and long-term economic prosperity for the Canadian agriculture industry,鈥� Warawa said.
鈥淭his investment will help Vista D鈥檕ro expand its production capacity, create local jobs, increase domestic and export sales, and will benefit area farmers through heightened demand for their products.鈥�
The investment, made through the AgriProcessing Initiative (API), will be used to purchase new equipment, including larger cooking vessels and chopping equipment. These improvements will result in shorter cooking times, increased production, decreased waste, and savings on energy costs.
The money will also support the creation of three full-time and 10 part-time positions.
Vista D鈥檕ro is a culinary tourism destination that produces a variety of foods such as fruit preserves, salsas, pickled vegetables, and wine using agricultural commodities grown on the property and local farms. The project is expected to greatly increase the company鈥檚 procurement of these products, benefitting local farmers.
鈥淭he API interest-free loan allowed us to purchase specialized preserve-making equipment to assist in growing our artisanal preserve production capacity,鈥� said Lee Murphy, president and jam master of Vista D鈥檕ro Farms.
鈥淥ur growth plans include expanding our export activities as well as increasing our current local market share, while maintaining the hand-crafted quality our customers expect from us. The new equipment will also allow us to create new product offerings, which I鈥檓 extremely excited to share with our customers.鈥�
This repayable contribution is being delivered by the Agricultural Flexibility Fund through the AgriProcessing Initiative, a five year, up to $50 million initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness of the agri-processing sector in Canada.
It provides support to existing companies for projects that involve the adoption of innovative and new-to-company manufacturing technologies and processes that are essential to sustaining and improving the sector鈥檚 position in today鈥檚 global marketplace. For more information on this program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/api.
Through Canada鈥檚 EAP, the Government of Canada is helping farmers find new markets, adapt to current economic challenges, and make their businesses more efficient and environmentally sustainable. The next phase of the EAP will remain focused on strengthening the economy while working toward returning to balanced budgets and securing Canada鈥檚 economic future.
For more information on Canada鈥檚 Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
