A Quebec cheese processing company will invest in automation and digital technology following federal funding announcements made earlier this week.
La Trappe à Fromage de l’Outaouais will receive up to $584,063 to assist the cheese processor purchase and install automation equipment to “optimize processing, improve product quality and production capacity, and food safety.”
The company, based at Gatineau, Quebec is a small-scale business, specializing in soft cheddar, vintage Brick, Colby and cheddar, specialty farmhouse cheese for raclette, and Brie. It employs about 60 workers.
$300,000 in financial assistance will also be given to the cheese processor in the form of a repayable contribution. The funding, provided under Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), will allow the company to purchase and install equipment to digitize production.
“The dairy sector plays an important role in Canada and Quebec’s economic growth. Our Government is proud to support processors by investing in innovation to help improve efficiency and competitiveness,” says Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, and Member of Parliament for La Prairie in a news release.
The Quebec dairy sector contributes about $7 billion to the nations economy, while the Canadian dairy sector as a whole, contributes around $20.9 billion.
