New Ontario Agri-Food Hub Announced

A new agri-food hub has been announced for the Western Fair District in London, ON, an initiative aimed at helping new and existing agri-businesses to “incubate, accelerate, educate and connect.”

 

The so-called Grove at Western Fair District is expected to attract businesses and organizations that are aligned with bringing people and food together, solving a problem in the agriculture and/or the food system or enhancing local, regional, national, international agri-business relationships, according to a Western Fair Association (WFA) release on Thursday.

 

“For over 150 years, this organization has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with innovators in economic prosperity and food security. Today, our organization invites the next generation of entrepreneurs, educators and leaders to join us in bringing new agriculture and food businesses, products and technologies to market through the Grove.” said WFA CEO Reg Ash.

 

As part of the Grove, repurposed buildings on the Western Fair site in east London will be used in a variety of ways, including food production, growing, retail, education and business services. Among the first tenants will be LiveFit, a provider of freshly prepared meals delivered directly to consumers. LiveFit’s new state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot facility at the Grove will have the ability to produce over 11 million meals annually and will have the ability to deliver to almost every household across Canada and the U.S. within 24 hours

 

The Grove concept had been in the works for several years as the WFA looked to play a larger role in tomorrow’s agri-business and agri-food industry, the release said. It is part of a re-envisioned, agriculturally focused business strategy to ensure WFA’s agricultural leadership role remains prominent in helping to “ensure the economic prosperity and food security for Londoners and all Canadians.”

 

Expressions of interest are being accepted from companies or organizations who are interested in participation in the Grove. Participation is intended for organizations with similar agri-education, agri-food and agri-business objectives as Western Fair Association.

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