A B.C. plant-based food producer is receiving more than $1.4 million in federal funding to increase production capacity and efficiency at its Delta facility.
On Thursday (July 7), Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd. would be receiving the investment under the government鈥檚 AgriInnovate Program, which 鈥減rovides repayable contributions for projects that aim to accelerate the commercialization, adoption and/or demonstration of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase agri-sector competitiveness and sustainability,鈥� according to a press release.
The release notes that as people around the world start consuming more plant-based products, farmers and processors have an opportunity to bring together Canadian crops and innovation to help the sector reach new international markets.
鈥淧lant-based foods are growing in popularity as Canadians are increasingly looking for options to incorporate greater variety into their diets. Investing in businesses like Big Mountain Foods 2 is establishing Canada鈥檚 position as a global leader in this industry, while increasing consumer choice of alternative protein options,鈥� Bibeau said in a press release.
Big Mountain Foods 2, a women-owned-and-operated company that manufactures plant-based foods focused on using local ingredients to sustainably produce alternative protein whole foods, plans to use the funding to increase production capacity and efficiency by adding custom, fully-automated robotic equipment to the facility.
The changes will help commercialize a plant-based, soy-free tofu product made from 100-per-cent Canadian grown and milled chickpeas, helping meet the needs of consumers with allergies to soy and/or other special dietary needs.
鈥淲ith the help of the AgriInnovate Program, we have been able to launch the first-ever Fava Bean Tofu free of all common allergens into the Canadian and U.S.A. market,鈥� Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd. president Jasmine Byrne said in a press release.
READ ALSO:
The company has commissioned a facility in Vancouver that has capacity to produce over two million units a year of tofu.
鈥淭he new facility is inclusive of upcycling, with a goal to be zero-waste. The feedback on the tofu has been very positive, with recent listings in Whole Foods and many other retailers. We are proud to have developed a tofu product that has similar taste, texture and functionality as traditional soy tofu that is higher in protein,鈥� Byrne said.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Delta MP Carla Qualtrough, who toured Big Mountain Foods 2鈥檚 facility on July 7 to coincide with the funding announcement, congratulated the company on the contribution its making to the Delta community and to the plant-based sector in Canada.
鈥淚nnovative agriculture is the way of the future,鈥� Qualtrough said in a press release. 鈥淥ur government is proud to invest in businesses that meet consumer demands, while keeping our industries sustainable and competitive for future generations.鈥�
Great to meet the team behind Big Mountain Foods in . Our gov鈥檛 invested in this company because they鈥檙e making in-demand, sustainable products that will make Canada more competitive in the growing plant-based market.
鈥� Carla Qualtrough (@CQualtro)
editor@northdeltareporter.com
Like us on and follow us on
