Feds invest in Manitoba vegetable processing plant

Portage La Prairie, Man. – The federal government is making a $2.5-million investment in Canadian Prairie Garden Puree Products Inc. The funding will go towards an increase in production at the company’s Portage La Prairie facility. It will also create 20 jobs, while helping local growers.

Canadian Prairie Garden Puree Products produces vegetable purées. With the repayable funding the company will expand its manufacturing facility and allow it to capitalize on a new processing technology that uses rapid steam-infusion cooking. The process, which allows manufacturers to produce foods with better colour, texture, flavour and nutritional retention, is ideal for products such as soup and baby food.

The production process is new to the Canadian market, is economical to operate and has a small environmental footprint.

“This initiative is very important for the vegetable and fruit growers in Manitoba,” says Kelly Beaulieu, vice-president of Canadian Prairie Garden Puree Products. “Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s investment will enable value-added agri-business to create jobs and improved sales for local growers. The vegetables and fruit produced in Manitoba are of premium quality and the purée format we developed is a superior method for providing global export opportunity.”