Productions Horticoles Demers, a Quebec greenhouse production company, will more than double its output with the construction of a new, 15-hectare greenhouse In Lévis. Tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers and eggplant will be grown year-round in the greenhouse.
The new facility will create more than 150 new jobs, adding to the 300 existing employees of Demers. The complex will be distinctive for its wide range of products, advanced technology, and energy efficiency. The $70 million project will make the fresh produce greenhouse one of
the largest in Quebec and will be realised by the greenhouse builders of Havecon.
A project supported by Quebec partners
To accomplish this ambitious project, Demers, which is one of the largest 100% Quebec-owned greenhouse production companies, has received support from local partners, amongst others the Quebec’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation, through Investissement Québec, is providing a $25.1M loan, and Investissement Québec, with its own funds, is providing a $5M loan.
Furthermore, once the greenhouse complex has begun operations, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will pay a subsidy of up to $23.1M in the form of an electricity rebate to reduce the company's operating costs from 2022 to 2030.
The facility will enable Demers to further meet consumer demand for Quebec-grown produce and help increase the province’s goal of food autonomy, a priority for the government.
When construction is complete, in autumn 2021, the Drummondville and Lévis facilities will cover a total of 28 hectares. The additional production acreage will increase Demers’ annual output from 7,500 to 17,500 tons, the equivalent of 175,000 100-gram servings of fruits and vegetables, enough to feed all Quebecers for 20 days if they were eating 10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Technology
The new greenhouse will be equipped with the very latest in technology and built of top-grade materials, particularly the glass, which will allow in abundant sunlight, and highly efficient equipment to minimize heat loss. The use of advanced technology will support production during the winter months using hydroelectricity produced in Quebec.
The combination of technologies and the expertise acquired by Demers over the last 30 years will result in high-quality fresh produce at competitive prices.
“Demers is proud to be able to offer even more products boasting home-grown flavor and freshness. This expansion will help us better meet the needs of the province’s distribution network while reducing our carbon footprint through proximity to markets, and to further meet
the public’s appetite for local products by offering a wider variety of fruits and vegetables," said Jacques Demers, President and CEO, Productions Horticoles Demers.
“In addition to generating substantial economic benefits, the project undertaken by Productions Horticoles Demers will help reduce our dependence on imported fresh vegetables. This financial support will certainly strengthen our efforts to promote local production and Quebec purchasing in the bio-food industry," said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
For more information:
Productions Horticoles Demers
www.phdemers.com
Havecon Kassenbouw B.V.
info@havecon.com
www.havecon.com