November 17, 2020 · Great Village, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Consumer demand for plant-based, healthy foods has increased across North America. Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms Inc. has been at the forefront of this trend and is now expanding to meet steadily growing demand for its exotic varieties of mushrooms.
Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms produces specialty mushrooms in an environmentally controlled setting. The company supplies substrate (a wood-based nutrient block that indoor mushrooms are grown in) to clients across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and the northeastern United States.
Federal government supports automation to decrease production costs
Lenore Zann, Member of Parliament for Cumberland - Colchester, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, today announced a repayable contribution of $200,000 to Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms.
This investment will enable the company to add 3,000 square feet to its facility and install automated equipment to process specialty mushroom substrate. This will double Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms' production capacity, decrease costs, and provide North American farmers with a domestic alternative at a competitive price to imported substrate from overseas.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are critical to Canada's economic recovery. Today's announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to help Canadian businesses not just survive, but thrive, in the new global reality.
Quotes
"The food industry is fundamentally important to the Atlantic economy. It is one of the region's largest economic engines, providing good middle-class jobs for Atlantic Canadians. Today's announcement further highlights our commitment to supporting the growth of the sector and the businesses, keeping the industry strong through the crisis."
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
"Connecting small and mid-size businesses with the tools they need to expand and export innovative food products will help build Atlantic Canada's unique agricultural contribution. Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms Inc. is helping farmers strengthen our domestic food supply, while contributing to the economy of rural Nova Scotia. Farmers deserve our respect, gratitude, and financial support in order to continue to keep Canadians healthy - especially during COVID-19."
- Lenore Zann, Member of Parliament for Cumberland - Colchester
"At Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms Inc., we are pursuing our dreams of providing fresh, healthy food for our community and beyond. Expanding our facility and adding new automated equipment supports our passion for sustainable and innovative farming practices. It is exciting and rewarding to be able to provide farmers in Canada and the United States with a domestic source of high-quality substrate to help them cultivate unique, exotic mushrooms.
- Jason Giffin, President, Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms Inc.
Quick facts
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Maritime Gourmet Mushrooms Inc. was established in 2014 and began selling in 2015. The company has since grown from one to six employees.
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The company produces 11 types of fresh mushrooms including Oyster, Shiitake, Lion's Mane, Cinnamon Cap and Hen of the Woods. The mushrooms are sold in farmers' markets, as well as to restaurants and specialty retailers throughout Atlantic Canada.
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Funding for this project is provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's (ACOA's) Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program.
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The Business Scale-up and Productivity stream of the REGI program supports businesses at various stages of devleopment, including high-growth firms, to accelerate their growth, help them scale up and enhance their productivity and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.
