Features Marketing Production
P.E.I. blueberry plant expansion unveiled

October 9, 2013, Charlottetown, PEI – Jasper Wyman and Son, a member of the North American blueberry industry, will double its capacity and double its workforce with support from the Prince Edward Island government.

“Where Wyman’s was once capable of processing a little more than eight million pounds of blueberries annually, this new expanded facility will be able to process between 18 and 20 million pounds of blueberries each year,” said P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz.

The expansion will lead to a doubling of the Wyman’s workforce from 25 full-time and 70 seasonal jobs to 50 full-time and 140 seasonal jobs.

The government of Prince Edward Island will support this expansion with:

• a term loan of $16 million;
• an Enriched Investment Tax Credit of $1.5 million to assist with taxes payable on assets purchased for this expansion;
• a grant of $500,000;
• an Innovation and Development Labour Rebate of $425,000 payable once new jobs have been created at this facility, and
• up to $75,000 from the Skills PEI Workforce Development Fund to assist Wyman’s in training new employees.

“Every blueberry Wyman’s purchases in Atlantic Canada can now be processed here in Morell – creating a ready market for Island growers and adding value to our vital agriculture sector,” said Ghiz.

Jasper Wyman and Son is a privately owned company based in Millbridge, Maine, with extensive operations in the fresh and processed berry business. The company has been operating in Maine since 1874 and has operated a blueberry processing plant in Morell, P.E.I., since 1998.