Government of Canada Helps Quebec Dairy Processor to Modernize Operations

SAINT-ANTOINE DE TILLY, QUEBEC, March 29, 2018 /CNW/ - The dairy sector is an important contributor to Canada's economy, contributing $24 billion through sales by farmers and food processors, including over $7 billion in Quebec. The Government of Canada knows the importance of supporting a strong and competitive dairy industry that will ensure Canadian families continue to benefit from high-quality products while creating well-paying jobs for Canadians.  

Parliamentary Secretary Jean-Claude Poissant (La Prairie), on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, today announced an investment of up to $3.9 million to Fromagerie Bergeron to help the cheese processor install robotic equipment and further automate its production lines. The new production lines will help Bergeron market sliced, grated and different cheese sizes, in addition to raising its cheese production capacity and buying more milk from dairy producers. 

Fromagerie Bergeron's ongoing expansion is expected to lower production costs, use more milk components in cheese production and improve the company's competitiveness.

Quotes

"Roger and Mario Bergeron are great examples of forward-looking dairy processors focused on improving their company's productivity, modernizing their equipment, and enhancing dairy products. I'm glad the Government of Canada is contributing to keeping the dairy processing industry modern and competitive and enabling new market opportunities. This is just one of the many ways the Government continues to support the dairy industry to ensure it remains strong and dynamic, while also supporting families engaged in the sector."
-        Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"I want to thank the Canadian government for its confidence and its support. This demonstrates support for our industry in the current international context. This contribution will allow us to support, in part, the modernization projects at Fromagerie Bergeron to deal with strong competition and to protect jobs and products here and across the country."
-        Roger Bergeron, président, Fromagerie Bergeron

Quick Facts

• The Fromagerie Bergeron expansion project is supported by the Dairy Processing Investment Fund, a $100 million, four-year (2017 ? 21) program designed to help dairy processors modernize their operations and diversify their product lines to pursue new market opportunities.
• Fromagerie Bergeron is a family-owned, medium-scale enterprise which specializes in Gouda-style firm cheese, employing 250 workers.
• Canada's dairy sector is also supported by the associated Dairy Farm Investment Program. To date, over 840 dairy producers have been approved for funding support valued at over $42.5 million, in a wide array of projects from small investments in cow comfort equipment to large ones for automated milking systems.

Associated Links

• Dairy Processing Investment Fund
• Dairy Farm Investment Program
• Fromagerie Bergeron

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada