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'Sweet' funding helps local dairy expand

By Catherine Whitnall

Kawartha Lakes This Week

Kawartha Dairy in Bobcyageon has received $620,000 from the provincial government for expansion project

'Sweet' provincial funding helps local dairy expand. MPP Rick Johnson, Mike Crowe, director of operations at Kawartha Dairy, and Blake Frazer, general manager of Kawartha Dairy show off cones of the dairy's ice cream on Friday (Feb. 5). The Province gave Kawartha Dairy $620,000 to help the company expand its ice cream production. Lance Anderson (BOBCAYGEON) Funding for an expansion project is a real sweet deal for one long-time Bobcaygeon business.Founded in 1937 by Jack and Ila Crowe, and still family owned and operated, Kawartha Dairy recently received $620,000 in support from the province’s Rural Economic Development Program to help complete a major expansion project. Costing roughly $1.2 million, the project will see new technologies installed to improve production and material handling, food safety and quality control. After completion in the spring, the project will not only retain 86 existing positions, but also create 10 new jobs, as well as increase demand for milk from local farmers. “Kawartha Dairy ice cream is really an iconic brand,” explained general manager Blake Frazer, noting items produced at the Bobcaygeon fascility are loved by both area residents as well as visitors. The company’s main focus has been to “grow that brand” out of the Kawarthas and into the GTA and beyond. As a result, the business has outgrown its current facility, as well as production. One of the key aspects of the expansion project is to install automated equipment. Currently, ice cream tubs are filled by hand, which is not only labour intensive, but also “quite a science”, noted Mike Crowe, director of operations and the third generation to work at the business. “This is our largest projects to date,” said Mr. Crowe, adding it’s “hard to express the gratitude” he feels toward the support from the province, local dairy producers, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Ward 13 Coun. Pat Warren. “As a family member, I’m hoping to see this continue.”The equipment will also afford the business the opportunity to “co-pack” products with other companies.“Improving production at Kawartha Dairy will result in more milk produced by local dairy farmers, provide more jobs for local workers and give consumers more reasons to shop locally,” stated Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Rick Johnson, who is also the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “The McGuinty government is proud to support partnerships aimed at strengthening and growing rural economies.”Planning for the expansion began in 2008 with the project kicking off in November. Mr. Crowe hopes to have construction, which is already underway, completed in three months in order to maintain a seamless flow of products when the “busy season” kicks in at the end of April.