More spuds are flowing out of the operations of Don Poulin Potatoes in Azilda now that the local potato grower has put $750,000 in FedNor funding to use.
The 9,600-square-foot expanded production facility was unveiled Oct. 11. The funds allowed the business to purchase specialized equipment such as an Upmatic electronic weigher, an Upmatic double paper bagger, a turbo dryer, a racking system and a packing line.
The funding was applauded by Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré, who was also on hand on behalf of FedNor Minister Patty Hajdu. Mayor Paul Lefebvre was also on hand to congratulate the business.
“Without FedNor, this facility wouldn’t be feasible,” Dan Poulin, the son of Don Poulin and the owner-operator of Don Poulin Potatoes.
The expansion allowed for the construction of a dedicated sorting and packing area, freeing up storage space and making for a cleaner workspace for packaging.
“It allows us to carry more volume and it was an opportunity to modernize and be more efficient, and it’s also a cleaner environment,” said Gary Roussel, the assistant manager at Poulin Potatoes.
“It makes our job easier,” Poulin said. “We can supply more accurate, more precise (amounts of) potatoes for… consumers.”
For several generations, the Poulin family has been farming in the Chelmsford area. Their 400-acre potato farm makes them one of the largest potato growers in the region.
The construction began in late 2022 and was completed this year. The funds flowed through FedNor’s Regional Growth Through Innovation Fund (REGI) – Jobs and Growth Fund. The $750,000 in funding is what FedNor terms a "unconditionally repayable investment," which means the funding is provided at zero per cent interest and can be repaid over 10 years.
— Sudbury.com
