Opportunity Grows in Brookfield
News Release
April 21, 2016 – Brookfield, PE – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
For over 30 years Brookfield Gardens has been providing healthy food to Atlantic Canadians. One of the largest vegetable farms on Prince Edward Island, the family-owned company grows a wide variety of established and emerging market crops.
The Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Alan McIsaac, PEI Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries today announced government assistance to support increased efficiency and safety measures for the prominent Island farming operation. The Government of Canada, though ACOA’s Business Development Program, is providing a $95,000 repayable contribution. The Government of Prince Edward Island and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is contributing $30,000 through its Growing Forward 2 Research and Innovation Program.
The assistance will go toward the purchase of new cooling equipment which significantly shortens the cooling process for freshly harvested, perishable crops. This innovative technology will improve the shelf-life of goods, help vegetables to reach consumers quicker, open new export market potential, and allow Brookfield Gardens to try new crops.
Quotes
“Brookfield Gardens is well-respected in the PEI agricultural community, and their diverse range of produce is familiar to people across the region. The Government of Canada is pleased to help this family farming business increase efficiencies and explore new markets.”
- The Honourable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, on behalf of The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
“Prince Edward Island’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a proud partner in the Growing Forward 2 Research and Innovation Program. This program is helping our primary industries be more competitive and innovative. On behalf of the province, I want to congratulate Brookfield Gardens on their continued efforts to grow an efficient, client-focused Island business.”
- The Honourable Alan McIsaac, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring new technology to our plant for removing field heat from our produce. This will certainly extend shelf life of these vegetables and will help to reduce our waste. We appreciate the assistance from both Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Government of PEI for partnering with us on this project.”
- Eddy Dykerman, Brookfield Gardens
Associated Links
Contacts
Christopher Brooks
Acting Director of Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-566-7569
Amber Nicholson
Senior Communications Officer
Agriculture and Fisheries
902-368-5286
Edward Dykerman
Secretary Treasurer
Brookfield Gardens
902-964-3200
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