March 11, 2016, Ste-Clotilde, Que. — The Fonds de solidarité FTQ is investing $5 million to further the growth of Serres Lefort in the Montérégie region.
Based in Ste-Clotilde, the company will put the funds towards a $27-million project involving the construction of eight hectares of greenhouses that will be used to grow organic vegetables for sale on the North American market. Some 60 jobs will be created.
“A pillar of greenhouse production in Québec, Serres Lefort continues to innovate by offering new value-added products and proving that jobs can be created when you use modern equipment and environmentally responsible practices,” said Normand Chouinard, executive vice-president, investments, at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ.
“With this expansion, Serres Lefort is acquiring high-end technology that will allow the company to increase its production of organic vegetables, all the while creating jobs,” added Janie Béïque, senior vice-president, industries, entertainment and consumer goods at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ.
LOCAL PRODUCTION PROMOTED
“Futhermore, this project encourages local production, a priority for the Fonds.”
Founded in 1984, Serres Lefort produces 65 per cent of Québec transplants for outdoor farmers. It also produces, under contract, a large part of the greenhouse lettuce sold under the brand name Mirabel.
In 2013, the company marketed its first greenhouse vegetables for the retail market, creating the VÔG and VÔG BIO brands.
Today, all of its cucumber, mini-cucumber and pepper production destined for the retail market is sold under the VÔG brand and certified organic by certification body Québec Vrai.
By year-end, the company will be cultivating 20 hectares of land in Ste-Clotilde, making Serres Lefort the Québec’s largest greenhouse producer on a single site.
ABOUT FONDS DE SOLIDARITE FTQ
The Fonds de solidarité FTQ helps drive the economy. With net assets of $11.2 billion as of November 30, 2015, the Fonds is a development capital fund that channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help create and maintain jobs and further Québec’s development.
The Fonds is a partner, either directly or through its network members, in more than 2,550 companies. With more than 600,000 shareholder-savers, the Fonds helps create, maintain and protect more than 176,000 jobs.
For more information, visit www.fondsftq.com.
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