Country Ribbon received $800,000 from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to purchase air-chill technology and other secondary processing equipment.
The Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Derrick Bragg, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, and Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John's East, on behalf of the Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announce the investment on December 9, 2022, at County Ribbon’s farm complex.
Bibeau said: "The Government of Canada strongly supports supply-managed sectors including poultry, which is an important industry for Newfoundland and Labrador. With this Canadian Agricultural Partnership investment for new air-chill processing technology, Country Ribbon Inc. will improve their productivity and competitiveness, leading to the opening of new markets and a more resilient sector overall."
Bragg added that: "Country Ribbon Inc. is playing a crucial role in strengthening food self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador. The $800,000-investment from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership will help the company modernize and expand its markets and make more homegrown chicken available in more stores here in the province. We look forward to the company's continued success, and to working together to increase food self-sufficiency in Newfoundland and Labrador for the future."
Transitioning to air chilling from water chilling will increase the amount of County Ribbon’s local chicken in grocery stores across Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This will provide a product that is preferable to customers and will replace chicken that is currently imported from the mainland. We thank the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada for their commitment to our local poultry industry, as this funding will help ensure the future livelihoods of local farms and the 300 employees of Country Ribbon,” added Ian MacKinnon, president, Country Ribbon.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is designed to innovate, strengthen and Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
The partnership has committed approximately $26 million to fund 558 agriculture programs, including the Poultry Biosecurity Preparedness Initiative, which gives Canadian agri-businesses the opportunity to apply for funding to increase biosecurity against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
