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Prince Edward Island wrote:
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<p> <b><i>For Immediate Release</i></b><br>
<b>August 29, 2006</b><br>
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<h3>New Owners for Hog Plant</h3>
<font size="2">CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI</font> -- Natural and Organic
Food Group, Inc (NOFG) today announced that the company, in a joint
venture with PEI Pork Plus, has signed a purchase agreement with HCM
Industries, based in Prince Edward Island. Under this agreement, the
company will purchase the existing Garden Province Meats facility in
Charlottetown.
<p> “This purchase is part of a government-supported industry
mission to strengthen the role and prominence of Prince Edward Island
in differentiated meat production within the local, national and
international natural and organic industry,” said Mario Maillet,
President and CEO of NOFG. “This transfer of ownership provides a
positive economic impact in a value chain that extends from farm
producers through the plant itself to the consumer.”</p>
<p> “This is a great day for the hog industry in Prince Edward
Island and I am very excited about the potential for new value added
products and markets,” said Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Minister Jim Bagnall. “I look forward to working closely with the new
plant owners and with producers to bring about a more sustainable
future for the industry.” </p>
<p> Organic food, a $15 billion industry, is one of the fastest
growing consumer markets in the world today, but the organic meat
segment remains underdeveloped.</p>
<p> Prince Edward Island has a pristine environment with
healthy hogs. The Prince Edward Island hog industry has prided itself
on maintaining high health status. NOFG is implementing a business
model that leverages the unique Prince Edward Island environment to
increase differentiated pork sales in Canada, the United States and
select global markets as far away as Asia.</p>
<p> Mr. Maillet noted, “The purchase of this plant creates a
unique geographic branding strategy for NOFG and extends the reach of
Prince Edward Island products into higher value markets around the
globe.”</p>
<p> Immediately, NOFG is making an initial investment in
upgrading the plant’s technology to increase production efficiencies
and output. It is NOFG’s intent to maintain current levels of plant
employment and create new job opportunities over time. </p>
<p> NOFG will be assisted through PEI Pork Plus to help Prince
Edward Island farmers to modify their farms into niche differentiated
pork programs. The pork produced at the plant will be branded under PEI
Natural, PEI Organic and PEI Omega 3, trademarks owned by Natural and
Organic Food Group Inc.</p>
<p> Natural and Organic Food Group Inc., established in 2004
and headquartered in Quebec City, is a fully integrated, socially
responsible leader in the production, processing and distribution of
organic and other niche meat and poultry products. NOFG is the first
and only company to bring a national and international federally
inspected and certified organic meat and poultry program to retailers.
NOFG (PEI) Inc. headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island is
a cornerstone in implementing a fully integrated pork value chain. </p>
<p>For more information, contact Mario Maillet, President and
CEO of Natural and Organic Food Group Inc., Phone: 418-529-9191, Toll
Free: 866-529-9191, Fax: 418-529-9123</p>
<p>Websites: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.naturalorganic.ca">www.naturalorganic.ca</a> or <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.peipork.com">www.peipork.com</a></p>
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<center>-30-</center>
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<td> <font size="2">Issued at Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island by <a href="http://www.gov.pe.ca/phone/index.php3?number=2582">Island
Information Service</a>. For more information, please contact <b><a
href="http://www.gov.pe.ca/phone/index.php3?number=1203">Wayne
MacKinnon</a></b> , Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture by email
at <a href="mailto:wemackinnon@gov.pe.ca">wemackinnon@gov.pe.ca</a> or
phone (902) 368-4888. </font></td>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Phil Ferraro, Executive Director, P.E.I. ADAPT Council
c/o The Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Room 103
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Canada C1A 7Z5
Phone: (902) 368-2005
Fax: (902) 368-2520
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:adapt@pei.aibn.com">adapt@pei.aibn.com</a>
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