LANGLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Canada's Economic Action Plan has provided real results for Canada's food producers and helped them deliver the highest quality food to consumers at home and abroad. MP Mark Warawa (Langley), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, congratulated three British Columbia processing companies today on improving their business with the combined support of more than $2 million from the federal government. These investments helped the three companies improve their processing lines, providing farmers with more opportunities to get their products to market.
"The Government of Canada is continuously working to provide farmers as well as the entire value-chain with new and innovative technologies that increase productivity and boost their bottom line," said MP Warawa. "This funding enhances the sector's competitiveness, helps companies increase production, creates new jobs for local communities, and creates more demand for high quality Canadian agricultural products."
Recently, the AgriProcessing Initiative provided support to Freybe Gourmet Foods, Made-Rite Meat Products, and Sugarplum Desserts.
Freybe Gourmet Foods received a $1,900,000 repayable contribution to purchase and install new high pressure food processing equipment. Made-Rite Meat Products received a $376,770 repayable contribution to purchase and install a new machine to automate the packaging of beef jerky. Sugarplum Desserts received a $94,500 repayable contribution to purchase and install a specialized ingredient mixer for various flavoured cake icings/frostings and butter-creams.
These repayable contributions are 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 food 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's position in today's global marketplace. For more information, visit www.agr.gc.ca/api.
The Next Phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan continues to help farmers with its focus on strengthening the economy and creating jobs. Investments in viable market opportunities will help build an even stronger agriculture industry and Canadian economy. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Freybe Gourmet Foods
Based in Langley, British Columbia, Freybe Gourmet Foods specializes in the production of over 120 varieties of sausages, ham, and specialty deli meats. It employs more than 250 associates, serving customers across North America.
Made-Rite Meat Products
Based in Langley, British Columbia, Made-Rite Meat Products is in the business of processing, packaging and selling beef jerky.
Sugarplum Desserts
Based in Langley, British Columbia, Sugarplum Desserts bakes cheesecake, layered cakes, and cookies for the retail and foodservice markets.
Source: Canada's Economic Action Plan
