The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre in Saskatoon is getting a funding boost from the federal and provincial governments.

Both governments announced $250-thousand as part of a $1.7-million project to increase co-packing capacity at the centre.

A joint news release says the investment will allow the Food Centre – through the purchase of specialized canning, bottling, and packaging equipment – to provide early-stage product and market development services needed to support clients from the meat, plant-protein, ingredients, fruit, and vegetable processing sectors.

This will help foster future growth for these sectors in Saskatchewan’s processing industry.

The quarter of a million dollars in funding was provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The co-packing project is comprised of a combination of new, in-kind, and cash contributions from Prairie Economic Development Canada and industry stakeholders.