DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: The Governments of Canada and Ontario are providing more than $5.4 million, through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to help food processing businesses improve food safety, increase labour productivity and enable better access to markets. These strategic investments will support more than 75 projects across Ontario and strengthen the province’s crucial agri-food supply chain. David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, and Lindsey Park, MPP for Durham, on September 10th, announced Algoma Orchards will receive up to $57,726.25, to purchase and install an innovative automated boiler, to run and sanitize juice operations equipment, resulting in labour efficiency, energy savings and other business benefits. The cost-share funding will improve their operations, so they can grow their businesses, boost the province’s economy and bring more safe, high-quality Ontario agri-food products to markets. Some specific types of projects supported through this programming include: Implementing technology or other systems to improve food safety; Transitioning to automated, advanced manufacturing and/or robotic processing technology, to enhance labour productivity; and Development of new products or processes, to increased sales. “Our food processors are a critical part of our province’s economic recovery, and Algoma Orchards is integral to the agricultural footprint in our community. By investing in this sector, we are helping our homegrown processors become more competitive, more innovative, and better positioned to keep supplying safe, quality foods for domestic and international markets.” explained David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South. “Algoma Orchards has contributed to the agricultural and economic vibrancy of Durham Region for generations. They are the biggest apple grower in Canada with a growing processing business. This investment will help them continue to succeed and stimulate the local economy in this challenging time.” stated Lindsey Park, MPP for Durham. “Algoma Orchards is pleased to receive the generous grant from the Government of Ontario. This funding has allowed us to purchase a new energy efficient boiler for our juice plant. This new boiler will help us not only service our current customers better, but will also allow [us] to expand our customer base and create much needed new jobs in Ontario.” said Kirk Kemp, President of Algoma Orchards . The Partnership is also investing in programs this year at provincially inspected dairy processors and provincially licensed meat processors, to support food safety enhancement projects. These are in addition to new programming launched this year, like the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program, to assist the sector in protecting its workers from the COVID-19 outbreak. Since June 2018, both the federal and provincial governments have committed costshare support to more than 2,500 projects, through the Partnership, to help eligible Ontario farmers, processors, businesses and sector organizations innovate and grow.