Agricultural Companies Receive Strategic Infrastructure Funding

The province awarded funding to eight agricultural companies to help strengthen their infrastructure and sustainability, Agriculture Minister John MacDonell announced today, Dec. 23.

"We are working with producers and processors to assist them as they develop their economic potential and improve competitiveness," said Mr. John MacDonell. "These businesses were chosen for their strong business plans and benefits for the agri-food industry as a whole."

Funding has been approved for:

• Foxhill Cheese House, Port Williams, Kings Co., to expand their processing capacity so they can respond to opportunities to produce new, specialty dairy products
• 2M Farms Ltd., of Berwick, Kings Co. to expand the seed potato operation that will allow the Nova Scotia potato industry to expand into specialty, export markets
• Nova Agri. Inc., Centreville, Kings Co., to support the commercialization of an innovative greenhouse technology that will provide opportunities for the Nova Scotia agriculture industry to meet increasing consumer demand for fresh horticulture products
• Holmestead Cheese Sales Inc., of Aylesford, Kings Co., to meet growing demand for existing cheese products and to develop new product lines
• MacMaster Choice Meats, Antigonish, Antigonish Co., to develop production and processing systems that will result in increased opportunities for the Nova Scotia beef sector to respond to consumer demand for quality beef products
• Eyking Brothers, Millville, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, to develop a facility that will position them to respond to new opportunities in the growing market for value-added vegetable products
• Cogmagun Poultry Processing Co. Ltd., Centre Burlington, Hants Co., to provide enhanced, value-added processing opportunities for Nova Scotia's specialty poultry industry to capitalize on consumer demand for differentiated products
• Northumberlamb Cooperative Ltd./Brookside Abattoir, of Truro, Colchester Co., to enhance the Nova Scotia agriculture industry's ability to supply high-quality, provincially-inspected lamb and other meat products to existing and new markets.

The eight businesses applied for funding under the third year of the Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund. To date, $4.25 million has been committed from the $6 million, four-year fund.

"The Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund increases collaboration and partnerships in our industry," said Mr. MacDonell.