Lakeside Produce recipient of up to $1.17M in emergency funding

Southwestern Ontario food processors will benefit from up to $6.1 million in federal aid, including as much as $1.2 million for Lakeside Produce in Leamington, MP Irek Kusmierczyk announced Friday.

Kusmierczyk was joined by Neil Ellis, parliamentary secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agrifood Marie-claude Bibeau, during a virtual event highlighting federal support through the Emergency Processing Fund for 34 food processing companies in Southwestern Ontario.

The fund is aimed at helping businesses, including a large number of greenhouse growers, keep employees safe and the food supply chain running strong, Kusmierczyk said in a news release.

“The agriculture and agri-food sector is crucially important to Southwestern Ontario's economy and a source of pride and employment for rural communities across the region,” he said. “Through the projects announced today, many local businesses are adapting operations to help protect workers and maintain their ability to produce good food close to home.”

Businesses in Windsor-essex County and Chatham-kent will receive up to $4.2 million, enabling companies to make adjustments that will allow social distancing, make it easier to purchase reusable personal protective equipment and to install hand-washing stations and protective barriers.

Funds will also be used to implement biosecurity measures and develop employee training.

“Known as one of Canada's richest farm belts, Southwestern Ontario is an agricultural powerhouse,” Ellis said. “Despite the many challenges caused by the pandemic, local food producers and processors have shown true resilience.

“These investments are supporting their efforts to protect the health and well-being of workers so they can continue supplying good food for Canadians and people around the world.”

To date, the fund has provided up to $32.5 million for a total of 188 projects in Ontario. The federal government announced the $77.5-million Emergency Processing Fund in May 2020.

“The Emergency Processing Fund has provided funding for greenhouse operations and food processing facilities to implement measures to address the added challenges of COVID -19 and ensure Ontario products are available for consumers,” said Chris Hiemstra, chairman of the Agricultural Adaptation Council, an industry-led organization that delivers funding programs that stimulate growth and opportunity for Ontario's agriculture and agri-food industry.