Across Canada, the Emergency Processing Fund will provide up to $77.5 million to help food processors safeguard the health and safety of workers and their families.
In the recent announcement, Neil Ellis, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also announced funding totalling more than $2.5 million under the Dairy Processing Investment Fund to support Empire Cheese Co-operative, Kawartha Dairy, and Mariposa Dairy.
The Dairy Processing Investment Fund is designed to help dairy processors across Canada modernize their operations, improving productivity and competitiveness.
“Kawartha Dairy is proud to partner with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to bring more of our products to Ontarians, strengthen Canada’s food supply and create more jobs in the rural communities of Bobcaygeon and surrounding area,” says Brian Kerr, CEO and general manager of Kawartha Dairy Ltd. “This support is especially important to our farming partners, our employees and communities during these uncertain times.”
Founded in 1937, Kawartha Dairy is a family-owned company which operates ten retail stores and specializes in ice cream and fluid milk manufacturing, as well as cream, butter and other dairy products.
There are over 500 dairy processors in Canada, including 164 in Ontario. Ontario dairy processors account for almost 40% of total Canadian dairy sales, reaching nearly $6 billion annually, and more than 8,000 jobs.
“We would like to express our appreciation to the Government of Canada for helping us create a safe work environment during these challenging times,” says Bruce Vandenberg, CEO of Mariposa Dairy Ltd.
Mariposa Dairy is Ontario’s second largest manufacturer of goat cheese, and has been crafting award-winning, high-quality goat cheese products since 1989.
