The government of Canada is investing $1,649,000 in three agriculture and agrifood businesses in Franklin, Saint-Anicet, and Chateauguay through the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions organization (CED).
During a March 5 press conference in Franklin, Châteauguay–Les Jardins-de- Napierville MP and Secretary of State (Nature) Nathalie Provost announced the government would fund innovative projects at Leahy Orchards, Logiag, and Une Touche d’Ail.
The announcement was made on behalf of Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for CED, in the presence of Beauharnois- Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon MP Claude DeBellefeuille, as well as MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent prefect and Franklin’s Mayor Yves Métras and representatives from the different businesses.
Leahy Orchards, which specializes in apple processing and the production of apple sauce, will receive $1.5 million in repayable CED funding to purchase new digital equipment to improve its packaging process, as well as a bag filler, a case wrapper, and a palletizer.
The company’s vice president of sales and business development, Dane Leahy, explained that the Franklin-based company will be expanding its production plant, adding about 40,000 square feet.“Once that is completed, we will be bringing in new cooking equipment, filling equipment, and packaging equipment to increase our capacity to produce applesauce and fruit snack pouches,” he said, noting the expansion will add one production line while leaving room for future growth.
The new equipment is expected to arrive this year and be functional by 2027. “It is going to give us an increased capacity, for pouch products specifically, of 80 per cent,” said Leahy, who suggests that pouches are trending and demand for the healthy and messfree snacks has grown by around 20 per cent, year over year for the past five years.
Leahy explained that the new technologies will be more precise than their current infrastructure. “We will be able to reduce the plastics in our packaging, and we will have the ability to offer recyclable options,” he said, noting the plastic in the caps will drop by 20-25 per cent while the amount of film used will be reduced by at least 10 per cent.
“When you reduce the size of your initial product, there are gains on everything down the line, so smaller cardboard boxes, smaller cases, more cases on pallets, less requirements for transportation, and reduced emissions,” Leahy said.
Funds for Saint-Anicet garlic Garlic
and garlic flower producers Nicholas Taillefer and Karine Fournier will receive $50,000 in repayable funding for a development project aimed at increasing their productivity at their Saint-Anicet-based company, Une Touche d’Ail.
Taillefer started his garlic processing business in 2016 when he planted 1,000 garlic bulbs in his grandfather’s garden in Saint- Anicet. Ten years later, the startup has grown to become the largest garlic producer in Quebec.
The funds will be used to purchase and install innovative production equipment, including a pneumatic peeling module, an extraction system, disinfecting ponds, and a drying tunnel.
Investment in innovation
The Chateauguay-based sustainable agriculture business Logiag will also benefit from $99,000 in federal funding to implement an international marketing strategy for its LaserAg technology.
The measuring instrument was developed over the course of a decade as a comprehensive platform designed for laboratories to sample and analyze soils, plants, and forage. The funds will be used to cover the salaries and professional fees related to the marketing of Laserag, including prospecting visits and travel costs.
“Our government has a mission to guide businesses into tomorrow’s economy and to help them seize the business opportunities that arise,” said Provost.
“Here at home, the agri-food and agri-environmental sectors directly contribute to a dynamic, diverse economy. By supporting businesses such as Leahy Orchards, Logiag, and Une Touche d’Ail, we are fostering innovation, productivity, and the development of new markets,” she added.