Pictured at the ground breaking of the new Cavendish Farms plant, from left to right are: 36-year employee, David Ell; Director of Operations, Cavendish Farms Lethbridge, Lee Gleim; Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Oneil Carlier; Premier Rachel Notley; President of Cavendish Farms, Robert K. Irving; Mayor of Lethbridge, Chris Spearman; General Manager and Senior Vice President of Cavendish Farms, Ron Clow; and Grower Greg Nakamura. Back row left to right are: Project Lead for the new Cavendish Farms plant, Andrew Macleod; MLA for Lethbridge-East, Maria Fitzpatrick; Minister of Environment and Parks, Shannon Phillips; and Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Deron Bilous.

“Today marks another step towards our new, state-of-the-art Cavendish Farms plant in Lethbridge,” says Robert K. Irving, President of Cavendish Farms. “This significant investment in this community reinforces our commitment to the region and our employees, growers and customers. The Alberta and federal governments and the City of Lethbridge have established the general infrastructure necessary to allow us to build our new plant here.”

Since announcing the construction of the new plant, engineering and planning has been well underway, leading up to this important milestone event.

“The record investment Cavendish Farms is making in Lethbridge is good for our farmers and producers, good for the entire community, and good for our growing economy. Together with the City of Lethbridge, the federal government and the good folks at Cavendish, we are creating more opportunities for our agricultural workers, more jobs for people in the area, and even more reasons to be proud of an industry central to who we are as Albertans,” says Rachel Notley, Premier.

“We’re thrilled that a major player in the global food industry like Cavendish Farms is breaking ground today on a new, larger, state-of-the-art plant in Lethbridge. We have a business-friendly city, and I want to thank Cavendish Farms for the commitment and belief in our community that they are demonstrating with this historic investment,” says Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman.

Construction on the new plant will begin with foundation work in December and be completed by fall 2019. Supplier and vendor procurement has begun and awarding local contracts, when possible, is a priority for Cavendish Farms. The new plant will almost triple Cavendish Farms’ annual production capacity in Lethbridge to meet growing demand. At the height of construction, it is anticipated there will be 400 construction workers on-site and 750,000 person hours of work.

About Cavendish Farms
Cavendish Farms is a family-owned company that produces quality frozen potato and appetizer products for the North American and international food industry, supplying customers in the retail, and restaurant sectors. We operate four potato processing plants – two on Prince Edward Island, one in Lethbridge, Alberta, and one in Jamestown, North Dakota. We also operate a fifth plant specializing in appetizer products in Wheatley, Ontario. Cavendish Farms is part of the J.D. Irving Group of Companies.

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For further information please contact:
Mary Keith, VP of Communications
J.D. Irving, Limited
Cell: 506-650-8209
Email: keith.mary@jdirving.com