Blueberries getting special treatment
Blueberries will be getting some extra special care at a P.E.I. processor after some new equipment is installed using a funding boost announced last week.
Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced over $971,000 in funding to Jasper Wyman & Son Canada Inc. on July 26.
An additional repayable contribution of $500,000 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency’s (ACOA) Business Development Program and a $194,000 grant from Innovation P.E.I. will also assist with the project.
This funding will be used to install new equipment to precisely sort and remove up to 99 per cent of defective berries.
The project will help Jasper Wyman & Son Canada Inc. grow exports and sales, increase processing capacity, reduce water and energy consumption and hire additional staff.
“This investment will be used to fund state-of-the-art processing technology that will enhance our ability to meet ever-increasing global customer demands for exceptional quality. Through strong collaboration with both the federal and provincial governments, we have been able to continuously research and test innovative processing technologies in an attempt to deliver the highest quality wild blueberry product in the industry,” said Robert Mancini, VP and Chief Financial Officer, Jasper Wyman & Son Canada Inc.
Matthew MacKay, P.E.I.’s minister of economic growth, said the new equipment will keep the Island competitive in the marketplace.
“Our primary producers are the engine that drives the Prince Edward Island economy and Jasper Wyman & Son are one of the anchors of our blueberry industry. They provide a major boost to the local economy and important employment for the region. This project will put the company on the cutting edge of sorting technology and will improve efficiency for the operation,” said MacKay.