Make It
In Middlesex
Agri-business
Sector Profile
Stanton Farms
ICFAR - Western University
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Bonduelle
Plant your agri-business in Middlesex County
Middlesex County is a
Canadian leader in agribusiness. The County
is home to top-quality
food producers and other
agricultural operations, a
centre of excellence for
innovative farming science,
food processing, research
and development,
technical expertise, and
the tools and services
Agri-business facilities in the County are on the cutting edge
of sustainability and environmentally-friendly technologies and
processes, minimizing their carbon footprint and ensuring
the region will continue to be the heartland of agricultural
production in Ontario for generations to come.
Overall, Ontario’s agri-food sector is the province’s number one
employer, generating $9.91 billion in exports annually. Agribusiness represents more than a quarter of all enterprises in
Middlesex County with a total of $552 million worth of goods
produced annually.
Middlesex County is a prime location to establish or invest in
an agri-business operation for a host of compelling reasons.
needed for efficient and
effective farming and agribusiness operations.
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First and foremost is the
land itself. The County is
home to vast tracts of some
of the most fertile farmland
in Canada, which allow
for large harvests of an
impressive variety of crops.
There are 2,352 farms in
Middlesex, and 246,592
hectares of farmland.
Middlesex County is also
known for its abundant and
prosperous cattle, pork,
and poultry/egg operations.
Make It In Middlesex
Reasons to Invest
in Middlesex
• Skilled workforce
• Strong rural work ethic
• Easy access to North
American markets
• Excellent transportation
network
Agri-business
Agri-business
Sector
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Plant your agri-business in Middlesex County
“Middlesex is
a good place
to source both
skilled and
unskilled labour.”
Ineke Haan, HR
Manager, Bonduelle
Having the raw materials close at hand allows food processors
such as Bonduelle to contract land for the production of
produce for its frozen vegetable processing facility in Strathroy.
Having access to land also allows companies involved in
research and development like Dow AgroSciences to test new
plant varieties and other crop management programs.
Middlesex businesses enjoy easy access to larger markets
through a well-maintained transportation infrastructure.
Products grown or processed in Middlesex County are within
easy shipping distance of Toronto, or the U.S. market via
border crossings at Windsor, Sarnia or Buffalo, thanks to both
Highways 401 and 402 and ancillary routes.
The skilled and unskilled
labour force in the County
is a big part of the success
of local agri-business. Ten
per cent of the County’s
workforce, or 4,224 out
of a total workforce of
nearly 43,500, is employed
in agriculture. The entire
London-Middlesex
commuting region has a
total workforce of 250,000
and an overall population of
440,000, of which 75,000
reside in Middlesex County.
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Make It In Middlesex
Reasons to Invest
in Middlesex
• Competitive and stable
marketplace system
• World-class research
facilities
• Abundant arable land
Agri-business
Agri-business
Sector
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Plant your agri-business in Middlesex County
“Land costs are
better here and
it’s very good
land.”
Sean Pressey, Facility
Manager, Sand Plains
Aqua Culture
And it is an educated workforce with eight post-secondary
institutions located within 100 km, including Fanshawe College
(16,000 full time and 34,000 part time students) and Western
University, which has 34,000 full and part-time students.
As well, any construction, renovation, maintenance or repair
work can be done by local contractors and companies, without
having to bring them from further afield at a higher cost.
Overall business costs are competitive with labour rates and
building costs, taxes and transportation costs contributing to a
bottom line cost advantage.
Finally there is the quality of life. Middlesex County offers
the best of rural and small-town living without sacrificing the
amenities of urban life.
Residents enjoy high-end
Reasons to Invest
medical facilities, schools,
in Middlesex
recreation centres, parks,
trails and shopping.
• High quality local food
ingredients
All of these factors: access
to markets, excellent
• Low business costs
transportation routes, an
educated labour force, local
• Access to local trades
people and services
expertise, resources and
tradespeople, combined
with lower capital and
operation costs compared
to urban centres make Middlesex County a fertile place to
plant and grow an agri-business.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-business
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Make It
In Middlesex
Profiles
Heeman’s
Whitecrest Mushrooms
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www.investinmiddlesex.ca
DOW AgroSciences
Agri-business Profiles
When it comes to the
agri-business sector,
Middlesex County
boasts an abundance
of innovative producers,
processing companies,
manufacturers and
researchers. Here is just
a sampling of the diversity
of companies operating
within the County:
Whitecrest Mushrooms
Whitecrest Mushrooms, Putnam, ON: A family-run business,
Whitecrest started in the mid-1980s, was purchased by the Good Family in
2001, and the company has been growing ever since. It is one of Canada’s
leading suppliers of Portobello and Crimini mushrooms, which are grown
in Whitecrest’s state-of-the art, environmentally-controlled indoor facility all
year round.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-business
Sector
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Agri-business Profiles
The County of Middlesex
plays a leading role
in agriculture based
products in Canada due
in part to its symbiotic
relationship with Western
University. The Londonbased institution of
higher learning is home
to a number of worldrenowned research
facilities in the field of bio-
Hollandia Bakeries
products.
Hollandia Bakeries Ltd., Mount Brydges, ON: Over the last 60 years,
Hollandia has grown from a small, family-run bakery to a production facility
of 35,000 square feet in size. The company produces 3,500 pounds of its
delicious, home-style cookies every hour, or a million and a half cookies
every 24 hour period. Cookies are packaged and sold under their own
Hollandia and Karleen’s labels, as well as for a number of private brand
labels.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-business
Sector
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Agri-business Profiles
Many of the agricultural
products developed in
Middlesex County find
their place on kitchen
tables around the world
as a result of the County’s
continual international
business development
efforts.
Cuddy Farms
Cuddy Farms, Strathroy, ON: From small-town Middlesex County,
Cuddy Farms is a global leader in producing and delivering commercial
turkey eggs and poults for delivery all over the world. The company has
built its reputation on the superior quality and reliability of its product, the
reliability of getting the product to hatcheries and on to the customer, as
well as a commitment to high quality customer service.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
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Sector
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Agri-business Profiles
A full 10 per cent of
the labour force in
Middlesex County works
in agriculture, which
translates to more than
4,200 workers.
Arva Flour Mills
Arva Flour Mills, Arva, ON: Its reputation as producing the ‘best flour
by a dam site’ is a commentary on the quality of the flour Arva Flour Mills
produces, but also the traditional way it is made. Constructed in 1819,
half of the mill still runs on water powered turbines, thanks to the freeflowing Medway Creek. There are nine varieties of ‘all-natural’ flours
produced at the plant and nine organic varieties, milled using time
honoured techniques.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-business
Sector
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Agri-business Profiles
The total amount of
cash receipts generated
through the agriculture
sector in Middlesex
County amounts to more
than $550 million annually
and that number is on
the rise.
Heeman’s Greenhouses
Heeman’s Greenhouses and Strawberry Farm, Thames Centre, ON:
Starting as a humble family farm owned and operated by Dutch émigrés
Bill and Susan Heeman in the early 1960s, the operation consists
of 190,000 square feet of greenhouse space, growing 900 varieties
of annuals, 500 types of perennials, 80 different vegetables, nearly
three dozen varieties of herbs, combined with 50 productive acres of
strawberries.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Agri-business Profiles
The agri-business sector
in Middlesex County
has embraced the
entrepreneurial spirit
whole-heartedly and
represents some of the
most forward thinking
and growth-minded
businesses in the County.
Stanton Farms
Stanton Farms, Ilderton, ON: The Stanton family is on the cutting
edge for milk production, breeding and embryo development. Modern
science has produced better dairy cattle and lowered the farm’s overall
environmental footprint. The state-of-the-art operation has generated
interest from breeders and farmers around the globe. Stanton Farms has
welcomed 14,000 people from dozens of countries to see the operation.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Agri-business Profiles
Middlesex County
features high-quality
education at every stage,
from elementary schools,
though high schools and
on to post-secondary
institutions.
Dow AgroSciences Canada
Dow AgroSciences Canada, Nairn, ON: Based in Calgary, Dow
AgroScience is a leading innovator in using chemistry and biotechnology
in the areas of seed and crop production, and pest control. The company
has a number of commercial and research operations throughout Canada,
including a new research facility in Nairn. The facility creates high-yielding,
high-quality wheat and other cereals to be marketed by Hyland Seeds.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Agri-business Profiles
Middlesex businesses
benefit from lower taxes
than in those charged
in neighbouring urban
communities.
New-Life Mills Denfield Feed Mill
New-Life Mills Denfield Feed Mill, Denfield, ON: Owned by Parrish
and Heimbecker, the New-Life Mills, including the one in Denfield, produce
high quality feed for producers of chicken, turkey, beef, dairy and swine, by
implementing the latest in scientific and technological breakthroughs. The
mills assure the highest standards for food and animal safety, and disease
prevention. P&H has been in business since 1909.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Agri-business Profiles
Middlesex boasts a highly
educated workforce with
a reputation for quality
work and a strong
work ethic.
Penta TMR
Penta TMR, Glencoe, ON: Already a well-established company in
southwestern Ontario, Penta TMR opened a new 80,000-square-foot
production facility in Glencoe in 2013. The company is manufacturing
tillage equipment at the Glencoe plant. Penta TMR grew from 32 to 55
employees in 2012, and plans further growth. The company hopes to
widen its clientele to include poultry, hog and cash crop operations.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Agri-business Profiles
The rural and urban mix
of the Middlesex-London
region provides residents
and their employers
the benefits of a lower
cost of living, ease of
mobility, access to health
services and cultural and
recreational opportunities.
ICFAR - Western University
Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources
(ICFAR) - Western University, Ilderton, ON: Part of the Faculty of
Engineering at Western University, ICFAR opened its 20,000 square foot
facility in 2009. Research and development on the production of renewable
fuels and chemicals, heavy oil conversion and sustainable technologies are
the focal points of activity at ICFAR. It also provides practical educational
opportunities for the next generation of scientists.
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Make It
In Middlesex
Case Studies
Slegers Greenhouses
Bonduelle
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Flower Ranch
Case Study:
Sand Plains Aqua Culture, Thames Centre
Fish Farm thrives in the middle of dry land
Did You Know?
Local entrepreneurs, the McLaughlin brothers,
turned an unused mushroom production facility
into one of the only indoor, high-volume, state-ofthe-art fish hatcheries in Canada – and the only
one to grow the warm-water species Tilapia in the
heart of Middlesex County.
There are 246,592 hectares of farm
land in Middlesex County (609,342
acres).
There are eight post-secondary
With no major water source for many kilometres, the
completely land-locked Sand Plains Aqua Culture is
expected to raise more than 225,000 pounds of the fish
annually, an increasingly popular seafood option, especially
in the multicultural Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and is
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institutions within 100 km of
Middlesex County.
Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Case Study:
Sand Plains Aqua Culture, Thames Centre
The Middlesex Advantage
demonstrating how a unique business proposition can
thrive in Middlesex County.
“There are lots of
Located in the community of Mossley in Thames Centre,
15 minutes southeast of London, Sand Plains Aqua Culture
has been up and running since June 2012, although the
property has been owned by Ewart, Edward and Murray
McLaughlin for more than four years.
other places we
could have gone,
but the cost of
They saw it as a good land purchase deal, but they really
didn’t have any firm plans for the site. An expert from IRAP
[the federal government’s Industrial Research Assistance
Program] said it would be a great place to grow fish,
Sean Pressey, Manager, Sand Plains Aqua Culture
doing business is
so much better in
Middlesex County.”
Sean Pressey, Manager, Sand
The pre-existing prefab concrete building was ideal to
house the tanks and equipment needed for the fish farm,
as it makes it easier to keep the high temperature and
humidity needed for optimal growing conditions. At present,
Sand Plains Aqua Culture imports small Tilapia, about half
a gram in weight, from New Mexico, but in the near future,
Pressey said the company will harvest its own eggs. Sand
Plains is a ‘grow-out’ facility, meaning the fish stay there
until they are ‘market size’ which is 700 to 800 grams, or a
little over a pound and a half.
Plains Aqua Culture
Pressey said the current fish farm is 200 feet by 120 feet
in size, but there is still room for future growth. Having
the former mushroom plant was certainly a boon to Sand
Plains Aqua Culture, but there are many other benefits to
being located in Middlesex County. Those include access
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Case Study:
Sand Plains Aqua Culture, Thames Centre
The Middlesex Advantage
to markets through major transportation routes; skilled,
educated labour, local tradespeople and contractors,
and also access to funding programs through the federal
government and the local Community Futures Development
Corporation.
“A lot of our
monitoring
equipment is pretty
Sand Plains Aqua Culture is proof positive that Middlesex
County has everything a company needs to develop a
thriving enterprise, whether under the water, or on dry land.
sophisticated, and
this area has a very
educated workforce
from which to draw.”
Sean Pressey, Manager, Sand
Plains Aqua Culture
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Case Study:
Bonduelle, Strathroy - Caradoc
Ample farmland, diverse labour market means success for frozen food company
Did You Know?
Bonduelle North America is just one example
of a large, international corporation thriving in
Middlesex County.
There are 2,352 farms in Middlesex
County, representing 26.5% of all
Bonduelle North America’s Strathroy food processing
facility is located in the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc.
The main factory comprises a sprawling 82,000 square
feet and a second cold storage site is a massive 171,000
square feet. The plant processes frozen vegetables for the
Canadian and northern U.S. market, churning out 80 million
pounds of primarily peas, beans and carrots under the
Arctic Garden brand and many store brands.
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business in the County.
There are eight post-secondary
institutions within one hundred
kilometres of Middlesex County.
Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Case Study:
Bonduelle, Strathroy - Caradoc
The Strathroy operation is one of seven plants Bonduelle
owns in Canada, with four more in the United States, part
of a corporate entity that has about another three dozen
factories throughout the world.
The Middlesex Advantage
Bonduelle is based in France, and has 47 plants around the
world, all very similar to what we have in Strathroy. We have
plants in places like Russia and Brazil as well as North America,
Ineke Haan, HR Manager, Bonduelle
core market, thanks
Ineke Haan is the Human Resources Manager for
Bonduelle North America, and works out of offices at the
Strathroy plant which also doubles as the company’s base
of operations for its three Ontario plants, including plants in
Ingersoll and Tecumseh.
402.”
“Our locations is
ideal to get to our
to our proximity to
Highways 401 and
Ineke Haan, HR Manager,
Bonduelle
One hundred and thirty local employees take raw, freshly
harvested vegetables, clean and blanch them, and then
subject them to the individually quick frozen (IQF) process.
The vegetables are then packaged according to customers’
specifications and shipped off to stores. A further 100
workers are added during the busy summer season.
The plant has been open since 1984, first as Strathroy
Foods, and then Carrier, before being purchased by
Bonduelle in 2007.
Haan said the key benefit of being located in Strathroy
and Middlesex County is access to the raw materials – the
vegetables. She also pointed out the benefits of a diverse
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Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Case Study:
Bonduelle, Strathroy - Caradoc
The Middlesex Advantage
labour market, which allows the company to hire both
skilled and unskilled workers from throughout Middlesex
County. As well, the region provides the amenities of a
large urban centre, such as hospitals, schools, recreational
facilities and retail opportunities, but with the joys of smalltown rural life.
“Our main
advantage is we are
situated right in the
heart of Ontario’s
In short, Bonduelle has discovered that Middlesex County
has it all. A great place to live, ample natural resources,
varied and skilled workforce, and quick, unfettered access
to the most populous parts of the country.
richest agricultural
land base.”
Ineke Haan, HR Manager,
For more information on Bonduelle’s operations and
product line, visit www.bonduelle.ca.
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Bonduelle
Make It In Middlesex
Agri-business
Agri-businessSector
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Make It
In Middlesex
Toronto
Guelph
Kitchener
Lake Huron
£
¤
402
Port Huron
Middlesex
County
403
Brantford
Sarnia
£
¤
19
Lake Onta
QEW
Hamilton
Niagara Falls
£
¤£
¤
406
QEW
£
¤
3
St.Thomas
Detroit
¤
£
¤ £
Woodstock
London
QEW
401
Stratford
U.S.A
£
¤
£
¤
Lake
St.Clair
Windsor
£
¤
Lake Erie
401
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U.S.A
399 Ridout Street North | London, ON N6A 2P1 | 519-434-7321
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