On January 16, 2017 the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal announced the Growing Forward 2 recipients for the food and beverage processing sector. Growing Forward 2 was created to help local businesses expand production in order to meet consumer demand and create good jobs. Two Oakville companies received $175,0000 in total.
The food and beverage processing industry employs 246,000 Canadians – the largest manufacturing employer in Canada.
Reunion Island Coffee Ltd. received $100,000. The company will purchase and install new packaging equipment to help increase labour productivity and efficiency. Reunion Island Coffee was founded in 1995. Its president, Peter Pesce, is a past Chairman of the Coffee Association of Canada and has played a key role in the development of the national specialty coffee market. The company is located at 2421 Royal Windsor Drive in Oakville, Ontario
Florence Meat Supplies Limited received $75,000. The company will purchase production equipment and complete facility upgrades to help segregate high risk Ready To Eat production. Florence Meats was founded in 1977 and was originally located in Kerr Village. Then the company moved to 2136 Speers Road in Oakville which was transformed into a modern, energy efficient facility.
Growing Forward 2 is a federal-provincial initiative that encourages innovation, competitiveness and market development in Canada's agri-food and agri products sector. Whether they are starting out, or have been in business a long time, GF2 can help companies reach their goals.
In Ontario, GF2 offers resources, tools and cost-share funding assistance to eligible producers, processors, organizations and collaborations to grow their profits, expand markets and manage shared risks.
Producers can submit an application for cost-share funding assistance from February 3-23, 2017. The Organizations and Collaborations stream of the program is accepting applications for cost-share funding assistance until February 16, 2017.