HENSALL – Metzger Meat Products of Hensall is among a number of small and medium-sized rural abattoirs to benefit from an Ontario government program that could invest up to $1.5 million.

Metzger Meats will receive $350,000 to expand and modernize its plant by adding more smoke and cookhouses, according to a government press release.

The Hensall facility will expand by about 15 per cent in size according to company president Gerhard Metzger, who said he hopes construction will begin this fall.

The money will also be used to modernize its production management system to improve both productivity and the efficiency of the plant, and will increase smokehouse and ready-to-eat meat production by 400 per cent, according to the press release.

The improvements are expected to create 10 new jobs and retain 18 existing jobs.

In an interview, Metzger said the upgrades will "enhance (the company's) ability to make more volume and also to have more control over our process, as far as consistency of product."

Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Carol Mitchell visited Metzger Meats Sept. 2 to make the funding announcement, telling a small crowd of onlookers she was happy to talk about the new partnership.

"Everyone knows that good things do grow in Ontario, and that includes Ontario's meat products," Mitchell said. "In fact, the demand for fresh, locally-raised Ontario meat products is certainly growing every day."

Mitchell said her government understands how important small and local abattoirs are, saying investments in projects like the one in Hensall are "not only good news for our province's agri-food industry but it's also good news for our rural communities."

Laurie Nichol, executive director of the Ontario Independent Meat Producers, also attended the announcement, saying Metzger Meat Products is one of 150 provincially licensed abattoirs "that play an important role in Ontario's rural economy, and (provide) a vital service to Ontario's farmers.

She said the meat industry is "a very traditional sector with long-standing, customary family practices. Over the years our industry has continually responded to change based on consumers' demands and based on food safety concerns."

She thanked Mitchell and the provincial government and said the commitment to food safety in provincially-licensed meat plants have "continued to evolve and strengthen over the past four decades under the leadership of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"Our association will play a vital role in helping the industry support, through programs and services that we can provide," she added.

"It is our goal as well to help grow the provincial industry, look for market opportunities, and certainly promote the high-quality, Ontario-produced meat and poultry products."