Connor McNamara of Fire Berry Farmstead was one of five local Métis Nation of Ontario members to receive a $5,000 an economic development grant from Bruce Power recently.
McNamara plans to use the funding to purchase a freeze dryer for the farm, which he says will allow them to expand the products they serve to the local community, by storing vegetables and fruits that are out of season, as well as larger meat items that are cumbersome to process and store without the proper equipment.
“Something like garlic keeps for a while,” he says. “But a lot of other things have to be processed and preserved right away. This grant will allow us to purchase a freeze dryer so we can store items to build out our stock.”
Other recipients included Emmerson Tree and Landscaping, which received funds to purchase new equipment, and LePage Fishery, which will use its business grant to repair a fishing tug.
Georgian Bay Métis Council president Ron Lepage said a total of 28 applications were received for the five Bruce Power grants.
The other two grant-winning business weren't identified by the MNO.
As for Fire Berry Farmstead located in Wyebridge, McNamara is hopeful buying a freeze dryer will not only help his business prosper, but satisfy the frozen strawberry cravings of his toddler.
“She loves freeze dried strawberries. Even the fresh berries. She’s always eating them out in the field. Maybe that’s another reason we can’t keep them in stock.”
