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Companies to supply fresh produce to Newfoundland
June 14, 2013 By Fruit & Vegetable
Jun. 14, 2013, Montreal, Que – Urban Barns Foods has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Newfoundland Fresh Produce Inc. to establish an Urban Barns licensed growing facility in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The growing facility will enable NFP to grow vegetables, such as lettuce, basil, cilantro and spinach, locally all year long.
Urban Barns has also granted NFP the right of first refusal on future exclusive licenses to set up additional facilities in P.E.I, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
“We are delighted to welcome NFP as our growing partner in Newfoundland with plans to cover the three Canadian Maritime provinces,” said Richard Groome, president and director of strategic marketing with Urban Barns. “The Newfoundland growing facility is a step in our national coast-to-coast expansion plan on establishing growing facilities in key target markets including Quebec and Ontario.”
“As a Newfoundlander, it is with great pride and joy that we bring … Cubic Farming technology to Newfoundland and Labrador to provide local grown produce,” said Stephen W. Bruce, president and CEO of Newfoundland Fresh Produce. “Over 90% of the produce consumed in Newfoundland is brought in via trans-continental road transportation then by ship. With the Urban Barn’s growing technology and methods, NFP will be able to supply fresh produce picked the same day, year-round and at a competitive price.”
According to Bruce, the initial growing facility is expected to be in operation by the fall of 2013. It will start with four Cubic Farming machines with additional machines and new locations throughout the province added over time.
Based on a study published in 2007 by the Department of Natural Resources of Newfoundland and Labrador, it was estimated that in 2005, less than three per cent of the lettuce consumed in the province was locally produced. The same study established that the combined potential for locally-produced vegetables in the province was more than $42 million per year.
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