Lakeside was the only company that has been engaged in both vegetable farming and processing.
Highbury Canco Ltd. became the second when it formed a partnership with the Brouwer family to grow tomatoes and the new company was granted a licence when it filed for a hearing before the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal late last year.
The $7-million project includes an 80,000 sq/ft expansion of the production facility and additional greenhouses. This will allow the company to increase production and ship across the Americas and into Asia.
“With the expansion of the facility we’re able to pre-cool fruit to proper pulp temperatures at the core, package them properly and then stabilize them for longer transports,” says president and chief executive officer Chris Cervini.
The expansion also helps to retain 312 current positions at the facility.
