Highgate Meats in east Chatham-Kent said a government grant announced this week will help the local meat processor and butcher be more efficient and productive and maintain high food safety at the same time.
Highgate Meats got $76,000 for a slicer, a sausage mixer, a hot dog stuffer, a mixer, a sausage stuffer, new doors, freezer coils, a saw, a dehumidifier, freezer doors, and a meat smoker cart to increase productivity and ensure safety.
Company spokesperson Amber Chalcraft said butchers and meat processors rarely get government funding and getting the grant on time is super important.
"For us to get it just in time is nice. We've had it in the past where we've had to come up to certain OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) codes and regulations and we already had to spend that money. I think they're getting better with how they're distributing these grants," said Chalcraft.
She added that the grant came just in time because the old slicer was on its last legs.
"We had to get a new slicer because our old one, she was making some funny noises at Christmas time and people were kind of laughing saying 'that thing must always run' and it literally runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.," she noted.
Chalcraft said the meat shop in Highgate is very busy and has seen a resurgence in meat sales as more people buy local.
"I think people actually had a wake-up call and [were] like 'I could be buying directly from the farmer and from the person who's handling it first,' which is kind of what you want, right? And we saw a huge increase of processing, people buying halves and quarters," Chalcraft explained.
The federal and provincial funding came through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP).
MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington Trevor Jones said helping meat processors and abattoirs be more competitive helps everybody.
"Investing in the backbone of our food industry, the Canadian and Ontario governments are fostering growth and resilience through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership," said Jones. "By empowering processing businesses and abattoirs with crucial upgrades, we are not only boosting production capacity and efficiency, but we are also safeguarding Ontario’s renowned food safety standards."
A total of 151 meat processors will receive funding to upgrade meat handling and processing equipment, technology and practices that will improve productivity, efficiency, and food safety.
Highgate Meats is family-owned and has been serving the community since 1977.
