by MATT MCINTOSH
A new market for locally grown fruits and vegetables is coming to Ontario.
California-based Misionero Vegetables will locate a new produce processing facility in Brantford.
The plant will make organic and conventional brand salads for retail and foodservice markets and is scheduled to start production at by the end of this year.
“The Misionero plant is going to use produce from the surrounding regions, and produce from California during our off season,” says John Frabotta, Brantford’s director of tourism and economic development.
In a joint press release published by the company and the City of Brantford, Hugh Bowman, president of Misionero’s Canadian operations, says the Brantford location is ideal because of its close proximity to the company’s northeastern markets.
Bowman also cites the region’s high quality fruits and vegetables as another deciding factor.
Larry Davis, a Brant County farmer and long-time regional director for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, is confident that surrounding farms will serve the plant well.
“This region produces very high value products. We can compete with anybody, and it’s another opportunity for farmers to do business,” he says.
The press release also says the new plant will hire 70 employees for the first operational year. By the end of the second year, the number of employees should increase to 130.
“It should be pretty good economically,” says Davis. “It’s a processing plant, and it will need other things like salt and sugar; that could open some other doors as well.” BF
Comments
It is good to see some one wanting to set up shop here .
Question that now needs to be asked is will there be funding from the Gov to establish new fruit trees since it was not that long ago that farmers got paid $1600.00 per acre to pull trees out ? Much the same as paying pork farmers to exit pork production . Can I get money not to produce crops also ??
After reading this story it becomes incredibly obvious how supply management is net negative for Canada. Raube Beuerman
this is great news . this type of farming will demand more from farmers than just growing GMO corn and soybeans. They will have to be hardworking people that actually put their hands in the soil to produce healthy food crops for humans.
I agree that it is an opportunity . The employment and the ones putting their hands in the soil will be off shore out of province migrant workers while the farmer sits behind his desk barking orders . So yes it will create some jobs but many of the labour jobs will send their dollars back home out of the province .
Post new comment