The funding stems from the Food Safety and Growth Initiative, a broader program supported by a substantial $4.4 million investment from the governments of Canada and Ontario through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). This initiative is designed to empower small businesses within the agriculture and food industry to bolster their food safety systems and stimulate growth, directly benefiting dairy producers like Sheldon Creek Dairy.

Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson welcomed the announcement, emphasizing that the initiative aids eligible food processors, producers, and service providers in improving food safety, adopting advanced equipment and technologies, and adhering to new industry standards. For Sheldon Creek Dairy, this financial support is pivotal, enabling them to enhance their responsiveness to evolving market and consumer demands, thereby fostering further business expansion and competitiveness in the dairy market.

Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Trevor Jones, highlighted that continued investment in strengthening the safety and quality of the province’s world-class food products is paramount. He stated that the Food Safety and Growth Initiative will enable Ontario to further increase and diversify its agri-food exports to new markets, while simultaneously reinforcing the long-term competitiveness and growth of local agri-food champions like Sheldon Creek Dairy.