Elmira, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Member of Parliament Harold Albrecht (Kitchener-Conestoga), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, today announced an investment of $713,000 to Martin's Family Fruit Farm to adapt innovative processing equipment for the slicing and dehydration of fresh vegetables into chips.

With this support, Martin's Family Fruit Farm will build on their expertise in producing dehydrated crispy apple chips to include vegetables. The company will use its processing facility in Elmira, Ontario to develop and pilot test drying on four vegetable varieties, including sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. The company will also design and install processing equipment for large-scale production. This project will help create jobs and increase demand for local vegetables, leading to increased profitability for farmers.

Quick facts

• Incorporated in 1987, Martin's Family Fruit Farm is a leading grower, packer, wholesaler and processor of Ontario apples with over 700 acres in production.
• The company had previously received a federal investment of $1.4 million to help create a new processing line for apple crisps and cider and to support the commercialization of apple chips as a new snack food.
• This investment is made through the Industry-led Research and Development stream of AAFC's AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million program under Growing Forward 2.

Quotes

"When we think about innovation in Waterloo Region, we usually think about computers and digital media. Martin's Family Fruit Farms are a shining example of the innovation occurring at the farmgate. Our Government is proud to partner with them, strengthening one our region's largest sectors of economic activity: agriculture."

- Member of Parliament Harold Albrecht

"Martin's Family Fruit Farm is delighted to partner with the Government of Canada's AgriInnovation Program to research the dehydration of various vegetables into crispy chips. This research could help launch a new line of all natural, healthy snacks, expanding Martin's current product offering. The project is a timely support for the innovation required to maintain Martin's leadership in this new snack category."

- Kevin Martin, President of Martin's Family Fruit Farm