Food Processing Plant Expands In Chatham-Kent Area - Ontario Government Supports Agri-Food Industry, Creates Jobs

Local food processor, Nature's Finest, is expanding its seasonal production to now operate year-round and almost double its production. This will create almost 60 full-time positions, giving a boost to area farmers and strengthening the local economy.

With support from Ontario's Rural Economic Development Program, Nature's Finest, a
Pain Court-based company that stores, processes and packages fresh-cut carrots, will:

• Install an on-site cold storage facility
• Upgrade production lines
• Nearly double its production from 45,000 to 80,000 tonnes annually
• Increase demand for Ontario-grown carrots

A strong agri-food industry is part of McGuinty government's plan to create jobs and opportunities that will boost the province's economy.

QUOTES

"By investing in our food processors, we are strengthening our agri-food industry and growing our province's economy. The McGuinty government's support for this project will not only create jobs, but it will provide new opportunities for farmers and support local foods."
- Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

"Our government's support for this project will bring nearly 60 full-time jobs to our region and benefit our community for years to come. By investing in this facility, we're supporting our local economy, our farmers, and our food system."
- Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex

"Everyday we work hard to supply Ontarians with fresh vegetables grown from our own fields for grocery store distribution. This funding comes at time when our markets are developing at a rapid pace and we must respond with the infrastructure and manpower to realize this objective. We are grateful for the confidence placed in us by the Ontario government."
- David VanDamme, Project Manager Nature's Finest Produce

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario has invested more than $167 million in 412 projects through the Rural Economic Development Program and generated more than $1.2 billion in new economic activity.
• Ontario gained more than 40,000 jobs in June, more than double the number of jobs created in the United States.
• The unemployment rate declined to 7.7 per cent. Ontario employment is now above its 2008 pre-recession peak.
• Since the HST was introduced last year, 114,000 jobs have been created in Ontario, the majority of them full-time positions.
• In 2010, Ontario was named a top destination for foreign direct investment in North America, second only to California. The province attracted a total of 127 foreign direct investment projects that created more than 11,200 jobs.

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Want to grow your food business? Ontario can help.