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Ottawa gives organic sector a big boost

May 19, 2015  By Dave Harrison


Taking part in the presentation were Matthew Holmes of COTA, Steven Diakowsky of Nature Foods Inc., and MP Paul Calandra. COTA

May 19, 2015, Markham, Ont. – The federal government is investing $785,000 in Canada’s organic sector to build and expand markets at home and abroad.

The investment is part of the AgriMarketing Program (AMP), a federal fund that helps support Canadian companies build a strong Canadian brand and develop global market opportunities.

The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) will oversee a four-year $1.5 million program that will increase the visibility and positioning of the Canadian organic brand in export markets, which is projected to result in over $20 million in international sales.

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COTA will also receive support to provide the government and industry with technical assessments of new and emerging markets with strong potential for Canada’s growing organic sector. The domestic component of the program will focus on building consumer awareness and support for Canadian organic options within the Canadian domestic market.

MP Paul Calandra (Oak Ridges-Markham) made the announcement today at Taste of Nature’s organic bar facility. Taste of Nature has brought a strong Canadian brand to over 60 world markets.

“This significant investment in Canada’s organic sector will allow our farmers and businesses to be more strategic and more impactful in how they go to market, both here at home and abroad,” said COTA executive director Matthew Holmes.

Global organic sales are now valued at over $88 billion per year. The Canadian organic market is worth $4 billion per year and is seeing impressive growth of over 10 per cent annually, making Canada the fifth largest organic market in world. Canada is home to over 4,500 organic farms, and more than 1,000 organic processors and handlers.

Canada’s organic exports are estimated at over $550 million per year.


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