British Columbia to support development of new food products

Canada’s British Columbian (BC) Government is to provide funds to encourage development of new agri-food products.

As part of this new initiative, Big Mountain Foods’ Cauli Crumble project is receiving up to C$49,250 in funding under the cost-shared Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation Programme under Growing Forward 2, in order to develop healthy food.

Growing Forward 2 is a five-year agreement that provides a C$3bn ($2.28bn) federal-provincial-territorial government investment in innovation, competitiveness and market development.

Big Mountain Foods owners Kimberly and Jasmine Chamberland jointly said: “The funding has helped us launch this innovative product and we look forward to competing with global brands and introducing consumers to Cauli Crumble.”

Cauli Crumble is a vegetable ground product that includes cauliflower, sunflower seeds, red peppers, and Manitoba yellow split peas.

A meat-free alternative to soy and gluten, it can also be used in dishes such as pasta, pizza, tacos, salads and casseroles.

Cauli Crumble is reported to be one of 36 new projects receiving more than C$2.3m ($1.74m) in funding to develop a range of groundbreaking projects in BC’s agri-food sector.

Canadian Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan said: “These new opportunities benefit farmers, help to grow the sector, and give Canadian consumers greater choice while growing local economies like Big Mountain Foods has done here in Vancouver South.”

This investment is part of federal government’s goal to create jobs, as well as growth of the middle-class section by supporting food processors to develop products that reflect changing market tastes and new opportunities.

The Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation programme is managed by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia.