Vegetable Processor Expanding in Tecumseh - McGuinty Government Supports Agri-Food Industry, Strathroy-area Farmers to Benefit

Ontario is helping a leading vegetable processor expand to meet growing demand and support local farmers.

With support from Ontario's Rural Economic Development Program, Bonduelle Ontario is installing new state-of-the-art processing technology at its Tecumseh plant. This will help the company to:

• process more vegetables at a much faster pace
• keep 184 jobs and support nearly 700 seasonal positions
• source more inputs from Strathroy- and Tecumseh-area farmers

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

QUOTES

"The McGuinty government's support for this project is expanding the market for Bonduelle Ontario and contributing to the success of Ontario's agri-food industry. By helping our quality food processors grow their business, we are strengthening our province's economy and creating jobs for Ontario families."
- Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

"The innovations we're supporting at Bonduelle Ontario mean that more of the delicious vegetables we grow right here in Strathroy will end up on our tables and forks. There is no doubt that this project is strengthening our region's agri-food sector and creating new opportunities for local farmers."
- Maria Van Bommel, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex

"Our government's investment in this project is ensuring the continued success of one of our leading vegetable processors, supporting local farmers and protecting jobs for countless men and women in the Tecumseh area. It's a great example of how we're strengthening our rural communities by growing our agri-food sector."
- Dwight Duncan, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh

"With government support in place, we'll be able to remain competitive by lowering our production costs and increasing our productivity. This means we'll continue to work with local farmers to bring quality, Ontario-grown vegetables to market, which is good news all around."
- Rob Anderson, Vice-President of Operations, Bonduelle Ontario Inc.

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.
• The agri-food industry contributes more than $33 billion to the Ontario economy and employs about 700,000 people.
• In June, Ontario had an increase of more than 40,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 7.7 percent.
  

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Want to grow your food business? Ontario can help.