A new state-of-the-art milk production plant in Abbotsford begins construction this summer, with a scheduled completion date of 2026.
The BC NDP made the announcement at Vitalus Nutrition on Tuesday (April 23) morning.
The provincial government is contributing up to $25 million to help VN鈥檚 expansion to a 143,500-square-foot facility at its existing facility on Mt. Lehman Road in west Abbotsford.
The expansion was initially approved in 2022, but Tuesday鈥檚 announcement sees an increase from the originally planned 99,000-square-foot proposal.
Vitalus currently employs 135 people, but that number will rise to more than 230 when the project is completed. It鈥檚 believed that the new facility will support over 3,000 indirect jobs in and around Abbotsford, including workers on farms and those related to supply chain logistics.
According to the government鈥檚 press release, the larger manufacturing plant will help B.C. milk producers increase local production by 50 per cent to a new total of 1.4 billion litres of milk production in the province annually.
Live here at Vitalus Nutrition in Abbotsford for an announcement from the related to a new milk production plant. Premier will be speaking
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
The release states that the new facility will allow local producers to meet domestic demand for dairy products, like butter which is being shipped from eastern Canada, and increase exports of specialty dairy ingredients for nutritional applications. The expanded plant will also use many state-of-the-art technologies to ensure that B.C. dairy products meet the exacting standards of quality required for today and into the future.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 funding announcement is a significant investment in Vitalus Nutrition in B.C. and it also represents a commitment to the future of dairy farming and the ag-tech sector in Canada,鈥� stated Phil Vanderpol, CEO of Vitalus Nutrition Inc. 鈥淥ur mission is to continue to unlock the nutritional value of dairy, but first and foremost, B.C. is our home, and we are proud to be able to create a significant number of family-supporting jobs, increase exports and enhance our contribution to the provincial economy.鈥�
Premier David Eby stated that the new facility increases food security, jobs and economic growth. He also believes that locals have seen the devastation of climate change, including the 2021 flood, and that this new facility helps with food security in the Fraser Valley.
Covering B.C. Premier David Eby鈥檚 announcement here in Abbotsford. Article coming soon to The Abbotsford News.
鈥� Ryleigh Mulvihill (@RyleighKMulvy)
鈥淏ritish Columbians have seen the impacts of climate disasters on food prices. We must produce more food here in B.C., and we have the ingredients to do it,鈥� he said. 鈥淗elping made-in-B.C. food producers like Vitalus Nutrition grow means more good jobs and opportunities for British Columbians. By working collaboratively across industrial sectors and leveraging B.C.鈥檚 strengths, we can build a strong, sustainable economy that works better for people.鈥�
Eby was asked about the lack of BC NDP candidates in the Abbotsford South and Abbotsford West riding, and said that the party across the province is identifying and working with potential new candidates.
Answers on the timeline facility and lack of candidates in Abbotsford South and Abbotsford West ridings for the upcoming provincial election
鈥� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
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鈥淲hen it comes to the election, we鈥檙e going to have candidates that reflect the diversity of our candidates in every aspect,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd candidates that I think will turn some heads. I鈥檓 very excited about the people putting their names forward.鈥�
The provincial election is set for Oct. 19.
