Dec 01, 2009 - 01:29 PM

By Jennifer Stone

CLARINGTON -- The Province has poured $1.498 million into a local agribusiness aimed at producing apple and pear juice products.

Algoma and Wilmot Orchards used the money to pay for the equipment associated with making the juice -- enormous tanks, pasteurizers and other related items, said Algoma's Kirk Kemp as Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky announced the grant, through the Rural Economic Development program.

"This is a very good news story," Ms. Dombrowsky said as she made the announcement last week at Algoma's state-of-the-art facility, which opened on Hwy. 2, at Regional Road 42, where the juice is made.

It's part of a partnership between local growers and the Vineyard Growers Cooperative, located in Niagara. The Niagara pear growers found themselves with lots of product and nowhere to send it after the Cangrow canning facility there closed.

"The people who owned the pear orchards needed to find a place" to send their wares, Ms. Dombrowsky said. "This facility (Algoma) now is looking forward to receiving some of that product to turn into apple and pear juice."

The juice produced at the facility goes to Walmart, the Loblaws Group and a host of others, including Sysco Foods and Highland Farms, Mr. Kemp said.

During peak harvest periods, Algoma has 200 employees. One hundred are employed full time by the company. It's the largest privately-owned apple packaging facility in Canada.

"We are continuing to grow our business," Mr. Kemp said.

Juice production just began in the new facility a few weeks ago.

"Our dreams have started to come true," Mr. Kemp said.