PENTICTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/27/10 -- The Government of Canada is helping vintners uncork new international market opportunities for Canada's top-quality wines. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, announced an investment of more than $475,000 to help Canada's wine producers increase exports and strengthen their production processes.
"When you drink a glass of Canadian wine, you know it's made to the highest of standards," said Minister Ritz. "This investment will help the Canadian Vintners Association spread the word about the variety of premium, high-quality wines that Canada has to offer, delivering profit back to pockets of Canada's hard working wine makers."
"Canada's producers are known for their dedication to quality and excellence, " said Minister Day. "Our federal government has a strong and proud record of supporting our growers. "
The Government of Canada investment will support two projects:
-- $213,206 through the AgriMarketing Program to help the CVA work with its
members to implement their long-term international strategy.
-- $266,150 through the Canadian Integrated Food Safety Initiative (CIFSI)
to upgrade the CVA's Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points-based
material, which outlines step-by-step food safety standards for wine
producers.
"The investment in Canada's wine industry by the federal government is vital. Accessing international markets is critical for our industry to grow and ensuring the quality of our products is essential too," said Dan Paszkowski, President of the CVA. "Competition for consumers is fierce but Canadian wines offer great value and quality. We have an exciting story to tell the world."
Canada's top-quality grapes and excellent growing conditions make increased export opportunities ripe for the picking. In 2009, Canadian exports of wine exceeded $19 million, with more than 10.7 million litres of wine going to international markets. The U.S. has developed quite a taste for Canadian wines, importing 9.7 million litres in 2009.
The AgriMarketing program helps producers and processors implement long-term international strategies which include activities such as international market development, consumer awareness and branding and industry-to-industry trade advocacy. To find out more about this program, visit: www.agr.gc.ca/agrimarketing.
Under the Food Safety Systems Development component of CIFSI, the Government of Canada supports national organizations in develop or upgrade national, government-recognized on-farm and/or post-farm HACCP-based food safety systems. To find out more about this initiative, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/cifsi.
Contacts:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Media Relations
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
613-773-1059
