Federal government announces support for N.L.’s poultry sector
By Canadian Poultry magazine
News Company NewsProvince's largest chicken producer and only processor receiving millions to boost productivity, sustainability.
From left to right: Jerry Earle, NAPE president; N.L. minister Bernard Davis; MP Joanne Thompson; MHA Lucy Stoyles; NL Minister John Abbott; Ian Mackinnon, president and general manager, Country Ribbon Inc. Newfoundland and Labrador’s poultry sector is the second largest agricultural contributor in the province.
To support its growth, Joanne Thompson, the MP for St. John’s East, announced in early December a federal investment of up to $8 million for Country Ribbon, the province’s only fully integrated chicken producer and processor.
The funding will help the company adopt advanced equipment that will increase productivity, while reducing its environmental footprint.
The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC), Marie-Claude Bibeau, and the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Ginette Petitpas Taylor.
AAFC is providing up to $5 million and ACOA is providing up to $3 million. These investments will help Country Ribbon purchase and install an air chilling system to replace its current water chilling system.
Air chilling comes with a range of benefits such as chicken products that contain less water and more flavour, decreased risk of contamination and reduced water use in the chilling process.
Ian MacKinnon, president of Country Ribbon, welcomed the news.
“As a result of today’s announcements, Country Ribbon is able to begin major investments in its operations. We will immediately begin a $20-million investment over the next year, including an air chill system that will allow more local chicken to be delivered to more major retailers in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
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