Micro loans help northern Ontario farmers get equipment

Farmers in the north can now apply to a new fund for help with buying equipment.

The grants of up to $5,000 are aimed at helping the northern agricultural sector produce more new products.

Local organizations, including Eat Local Sudbury, the Rural Agri-Innovation Network in the Algoma region and the Northeast Community Network in Kapuskasing, will distribute the funds, which come from FedNor and Industry Canada.

Peggy Bailey, of Eat Local Sudbury, said the goal is to bring more local food products tostores.

A flash freezer, for example, for a blueberry producer or it could be, in some cases, people are using specific processing equipment so that they [can] grade vegetables, she said.

FedNor and Industry Canada have provided close to $300,000 for the program.