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Ontario fruit processor receives funding

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

Ontario fruit processor receives funding
Area fruit processor Cherry Lane Frozen Fruits recently
received a federal investment of more than $ 163,000 courtesy of Canada’s
Economic Action Plan.

January 10, 2011,
Vineland, Ont – Area fruit processor Cherry Lane Frozen Fruits recently
received a federal investment of more than $163,000 courtesy of Canada’s
Economic Action Plan.

It’s expected this
repayable contribution will help the company improve its processing equipment,
allowing it to retain its market position against foreign competition.

Jenifer Smith (left) of Cherry Lane describes the company's new Colour Detector Sorting Machine to Niagara MP Dean Allison (right).

The money will be used
to purchase and install twin advanced colour detector sorting machines.
Automating a function previously done manually, the new equipment will sort
cherries according to desired quality characteristics. Increased efficiencies
and improved consistency in the sorting function allows Cherry Lane to secure a
customer base and retain its position in a competitive market. The project also
allows the firm to continue its supply-chain relationship with 22 cherry
growers thereby providing another distribution channel to Ontario-based
producers.

“We’re very excited
about the opportunities that this funding provides,” said Jenifer Smith at
Cherry Lane. “We operate in a global market and have been challenged to stay
competitive while keeping our commitment to purchase as much Ontario fruit as
possible. The new colour sorter will create efficiencies that allow us to
process more locally grown cherries from our grower community.”

The investment to Cherry
Lane is being delivered by the AgriFlexibility fund through the AgriProcessing Initiative, a five-year, up to $50 million initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness
of the agri-processing sector in Canada. It provides support to existing
companies for projects that involve the adoption of innovative and
new-to-company manufacturing technologies and processes that are essential to
sustaining and improving the sector's position in today’s global marketplace.
For more information, visit www.agr.gc.ca/api.