Features Production Profiles
Federal government helps snack food products

December 15, 2014, Vaughan, Ont – The federal government recently announced a $782,000 repayable contribution to Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. to help the company commercialize its organic snack foods.

This support from the AgriInnovation Program will help the company purchase new equipment to produce organic bars and snacks. With this new equipment, Riverside Natural Foods will use a moulding and dehydration process to create snack bars that will remain whole without the use of sugar binders. This process is among the first of its kind in the industry, strengthening Canada’s position as a healthy food processor and increasing the demand for agricultural products such as oats, blueberries and flax, in addition to adding 31 full-time jobs on the company’s production line.

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for recognizing the innovation and opportunity possible at Riverside Natural Foods,” said the company’s president, Nima Fotovat. “Providing us with the necessary support needed to commercialize our new products, we are able to accelerate our growth and gain access to new markets beyond Canada. It will also create more employment opportunities within our organization, indirectly support and positively impact other Canadian businesses.”

“Introducing this type of innovative technology will help position Canada as a leader in the health food industry, and respond to consumer demand for healthier snack foods,” said Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill. “This project will increase the demand for Canadian agricultural commodities such as organic oats, blueberries and flax, in return boosting the bottom line of farmers.”