DRAKE MEAT PROCESSORS MARKS EXPANSION

Released on May 3, 1995

The federal and provincial governments, together with Drake Meat
Processors, today officially marked the completion of the plant's
expansion and upgrade.

The ceremony was attended by Saskatchewan Economic Development Minister
Dwain Lingenfelter and Agriculture and Agri-Food regional director
Susie Miller, on behalf of federal minister Ralph Goodale.

Drake Meat Processors has been supplying the Saskatchewan market with
processed meat products since its establishment in 1950. Increased
demand for the company's products, as well as developing markets for
several new products, required an upgrade of the plant.

The upgrade included an expansion of the plant's smokehouse capacity
and processing equipment to produce beef jerky, as well as the addition
of processing systems and equipment for fresh sausage production.

Sales have increased 30 per cent and seven full-time jobs have been
created at the meat processing plant as a result of the expansion.

Total cost of the project was $295,000. The federal and provincial
governments provided $73,750, of which $53,750 is repayable.

Funding was provided under the Partnership Agreement on Water-Based
Economic Development (PAWBED), a multi-million dollar
federal-provincial cost-shared agreement to help remove water-based
constraints to economic development and support value-added
agricultural processing.

"Through PAWBED, we're helping to eliminate some of the barriers to
economic growth and diversification in Saskatchewan," said Mr. Goodale.
"By adding value to primary production, projects like this one bring
additional income and new jobs to rural communities."

"Drake Meat Processors is a good example of how smaller companies,
especially in rural areas, are using their initiative to remain
competitive," Lingenfelter said. "That's good news for all of us,
because the more economic activity these small businesses can generate,
the more jobs they will create throughout Saskatchewan."

Under its Processing and Commercial Development Program, PAWBED will
help producers, industry and other proponents establish new facilities,
expand or modify existing facilities, or develop other water-based or
agricultural value-added processing opportunities.

PAWBED is administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Prairie
Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) and Sask Water.

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For more information, contact:

Phil Adkins David White
PAWBED Federal Co-Secretary Vice-President
PFRA Drake Meat Processors
Saskatoon Drake
Phone: (306) 975-4773 Phone: (306) 363-2117

Kevin Engel
PAWBED Provincial Co-Secretary
Sask Water
Moose Jaw
Phone: (306) 694-3995