The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, announced a $1.25-million investment to help establish vegetable cold storage and packing facilities in Robinsons and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Spruce Meadow Farms, near Happy Valley-Goose Bay, will receive $250,000 in provincial funding under the vegetable cold storage development program, and $242,975 under the federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to construct a regional cold storage and packaging facility for Labrador.
Southwestern Newfoundland Farmers Group Ltd, a cooperative of seven farmers from the Southwest Coast region of the island portion of the province, will receive $750,000 in provincial funding under the Regional Vegetable Cold Storage Development Program to help establish a new vegetable storage and secondary processing facility in Robinsons.
Access to adequate, certified cold storage facilities is vital for farmers to extend their marketing periods, meet wholesaler requirements for consistent quality and supply, and increase opportunities for secondary processing. Establishing cooperative cold storage facilities in these regions is intended to give producers the infrastructure they need to increase production and improve vegetable quality and food self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Expressions of Interest to establish regional, certified cold storage and packing facilities were considered from individuals, producer cooperatives or associations, and applications that best met regional requirements were accepted. This initiative advances the Provincial Government’s plans to develop a stronger economic foundation and increase food self-sufficiency to 20% by 2022. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a federal-provincial-territorial initiative providing $37 million over five years to the Newfoundland and Labrador agriculture and agri-food industry.
“Vegetable cold storage is a real need in our province’s agriculture sector. These projects will enable farmers to extend their marketing periods and meet wholesaler requirements by providing the vital infrastructure they need to increase production and improve vegetable quality. With access to safe, healthy food on everyone’s minds, addressing real needs in farming through innovative, practical initiatives has never been more important. I look forward to seeing our farmers increase their markets and profits as we continue to improve food self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador.” said Honorable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
"On behalf of the federal government, we look forward to seeing the beneficial impact of cold storage facilities in the region. This investment was made possible in partnership with the province and local farming groups who work tirelessly to offer fresh, local produce for their communities. Now, with these cold storage facilities, farmers can expand and increase their offerings on a local level. This will help food security and self-sufficiency within the region. This indeed will open the door for more exciting opportunities in the local agricultural sector." said Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador on behalf of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
For more information:
Linda Skinner
Tel: 709-637-2284, 632-8167
Email: lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca