Harper Government Helps Lead the Way for Healthy Snack Food Products

News Release

December 15, 2014 – Vaughan, Ontario - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Member of Parliament Peter Kent (Thornhill), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, today announced a $782,000 repayable contribution to Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. to help the company commercialize its innovative, organic snack foods.

This support from the AgriInnovation Program will help the company purchase new equipment to produce healthy organic bars and snacks. With this new equipment, Riverside Natural Foods will use a moulding and dehydration process to create snack bars that will remain whole without the use of sugar binders. This innovative process is among the first of its kind in the industry, strengthening Canada’s position as a healthy food processor and increasing the demand for agricultural products such as oats, blueberries and flax, in addition to adding 31 full-time jobs on the company’s production line.

Quick Facts

Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. is a family-owned company that produces healthy snack foods with distribution domestically and to export markets.
In 2013, Canada’s food processing sector had export sales of over $25.4 billion.
This investment is made through the Enabling Commercialization and Adoption stream of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million initiative under Growing Forward 2.

Quotes

“Introducing this type of innovative technology will help position Canada as a leader in the health food industry, and respond to consumer demand for healthier snack foods. This project will increase the demand for Canadian agricultural commodities such as organic oats, blueberries and flax, in return boosting the bottom line of farmers.”
- Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for recognizing the innovation and opportunity possible at Riverside Natural Foods. Providing us with the necessary support needed to commercialize our new products, we are able to accelerate our growth and gain access to new markets beyond Canada. It will also create more employment opportunities within our organization, indirectly support and positively impact other Canadian businesses.”
- Nima Fotovat, President, Riverside Natural Foods Ltd.

Additional Links

Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
AgriInnovation Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Contacts

Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Nima Fotovat
Riverside Natural Foods Ltd.
416-360-8200 ext. 225

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Harper Government Helps Lead the Way for Healthy Snack Food Products

News Release

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