From Agexpert news letter:"Atlantic beef processing plant nearly open
...by Allison Finnamore
======
Beef producers in Atlantic Canada are just a few months away from having a
processing plant in their own backyard.
Atlantic Beef Products Inc. is set to begin processing at the Prince Edward
Island plant September 1, 2004. Plant executive member John Colwill said the
facility, currently under construction, will be a branded beef plant eventually
processing 500 head a week and employing 70 full-time people. The facility is
located near the end of Confederation Bridge, which links the Island to New
Brunswick.
The facility is 50 per cent producer-owned by a co-operative started especially
to open a local plant. The 160 beef producer members were required to purchase a
minimum of 20 hooks and a maximum of 2,600. The provincial governments in
Atlantic Canada assisted with forgivable loans, as the plant setup began shortly
after the BSE crisis unfolded.
The remaining half of ownership is through commission and government shares,
Colwill explained. He gave details about the plant when N.B.'s beef producers
met earlier this spring for their annual meeting.
He said the plant is in response to consumer demands. "I think the consumer
is
at the beginning of the value chain," Colwill said. They want quality taste
and
product consistency. Overall, they want to purchase food grown close to home.
"Eighty-eight per cent of Atlantic Canadians say they want to buy
local," he
said, adding shoppers feel buying local supports the area's agriculture industry
resulting in fresher and safer food.
Co-Op Atlantic will market the beef from Atlantic Beef Products Inc. under their
Atlantic Tender Beef Classic line.
Colwill acknowledged it will be a challenge to meet the 500 head a week goal,
but said a quality assurance officer has been hired to help producers sell to
the plant. He'll work with producers to develop feed programs in compliance with
the brand structure. Eventually, the quality assurance officer will be the
plant's buyer. A general manager and an operations manager are also already on
staff, establishing recruitment and training programs. Equipment testing is
scheduled to begin August 1.
Atlantic producers are looking at a huge marketing opportunity, he said.
"We
are six per cent of the population. We consume eight per cent of the meat and we
produce two per cent."
Original plant plans didn't include the capability to deal with cull animals,
but that was before the BSE crisis. The executive is now trying to deal with
that issue by attempting to secure funding for a cull processing line. They're
also working to find funds for cut line equipment for traceability from gate to
plate and BSE testing measures for animals older than 30 months."
Lets wish them well in getting this going and giving the east coast producers an other marketing oppotunity
BruceC
...by Allison Finnamore
======
Beef producers in Atlantic Canada are just a few months away from having a
processing plant in their own backyard.
Atlantic Beef Products Inc. is set to begin processing at the Prince Edward
Island plant September 1, 2004. Plant executive member John Colwill said the
facility, currently under construction, will be a branded beef plant eventually
processing 500 head a week and employing 70 full-time people. The facility is
located near the end of Confederation Bridge, which links the Island to New
Brunswick.
The facility is 50 per cent producer-owned by a co-operative started especially
to open a local plant. The 160 beef producer members were required to purchase a
minimum of 20 hooks and a maximum of 2,600. The provincial governments in
Atlantic Canada assisted with forgivable loans, as the plant setup began shortly
after the BSE crisis unfolded.
The remaining half of ownership is through commission and government shares,
Colwill explained. He gave details about the plant when N.B.'s beef producers
met earlier this spring for their annual meeting.
He said the plant is in response to consumer demands. "I think the consumer
is
at the beginning of the value chain," Colwill said. They want quality taste
and
product consistency. Overall, they want to purchase food grown close to home.
"Eighty-eight per cent of Atlantic Canadians say they want to buy
local," he
said, adding shoppers feel buying local supports the area's agriculture industry
resulting in fresher and safer food.
Co-Op Atlantic will market the beef from Atlantic Beef Products Inc. under their
Atlantic Tender Beef Classic line.
Colwill acknowledged it will be a challenge to meet the 500 head a week goal,
but said a quality assurance officer has been hired to help producers sell to
the plant. He'll work with producers to develop feed programs in compliance with
the brand structure. Eventually, the quality assurance officer will be the
plant's buyer. A general manager and an operations manager are also already on
staff, establishing recruitment and training programs. Equipment testing is
scheduled to begin August 1.
Atlantic producers are looking at a huge marketing opportunity, he said.
"We
are six per cent of the population. We consume eight per cent of the meat and we
produce two per cent."
Original plant plans didn't include the capability to deal with cull animals,
but that was before the BSE crisis. The executive is now trying to deal with
that issue by attempting to secure funding for a cull processing line. They're
also working to find funds for cut line equipment for traceability from gate to
plate and BSE testing measures for animals older than 30 months."
Lets wish them well in getting this going and giving the east coast producers an other marketing oppotunity
BruceC
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