Jasper Wyman & Son to receive funding for fruit processing expansion

The Government of Canada has agreed to provide funding to support wild blueberries supplier Jasper Wyman & Son Canada to expand its fruit processing capabilities.

Jasper Wyman & Son Canada will receive C$971,000 ($737,115), which will be used to install new sorting equipment that removes up to 99% of defective berries.

The funding will be offered to the company under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriInnovate Programme.

Improvements will also help Jasper Wyman & Son Canada to increase exports, sales and processing capacity.

Additionally, it will be able to increase the workforce, as well as reduce water and energy consumption at the facility.

Jasper Wyman & Son vice-president and chief financial officer Robert Mancini said: “The Wyman’s family would like to thank Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Government of Prince Edward Island for their continued support of our quest to expand wild blueberry exports and create high-paying jobs in Canada.

“This investment will be used to fund state-of-the-art processing technology that will enhance our ability to meet ever-increasing global customer demands for exceptional quality.

“Through strong collaboration with both the federal and provincial governments, we have been able to continue research and test innovative processing technologies in an attempt to deliver the highest quality wild blueberry product in the industry.”

Additionally, Canada Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Lawrence MacAulay announced a repayable contribution of C$500,000 ($379,565) from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency’s Business Development Programme.

The Government of Prince Edward Island will also provide a grant of C$194,000 ($147,271) under Innovation PEI to assist with the project.