The Niagara Enterprise Agency (NEA) has received financial support from the Agricultural Adaptation Council’s (AAC) CanAdapt program to assist in its efforts to introduce Canadian products into Middle Eastern markets.

The AAC board supported the project as a matching grant with the NEA up to $24,000. Icewine is the flagship product in this effort to capture new markets by NEA, a non-profit economic development organization. The agency will help promote the branding of Canadian food and beverage excellence in global markets with a Canadian product that is internationally recognized as the world’s best.

“The launch of Niagara icewines in the Middle East has the potential to dramatically increase sales of Niagara wines by as much as $500,000 in its first year,” says Glen Stansfield, of NEA. “To do this, NEA has identified and developed the necessary infrastructure, partners and associates needed to introduce Niagara wines into this new emerging market for long term growth."

Increased sales and production of wine is vitally important to grape growers in Ontario as production volumes have increased over the past several years.

“The AAC strongly supports Ontario businesses and producers that are willing to innovate and adapt. One way this can be done is by securing new export markets,” says Bob Bedggood, AAC Chair. “By addressing one of AAC’s priorities - capturing market opportunities - this project will showcase and promote the Canadian icewine sector and subsequently other Canadian food and beverage products.”

Six estate wineries, each producing exceptional icewine, initiated this exporting endeavour through the NEA. Participating wineries include: Pillitteri Estates, Vineland Estates Winery, Reif Estate Winery, Lakeview Cellars, Birchwood Winery, and Spirits and Harbour Estates Winery. This project will set an example for other individuals and companies in the agri-food sector by illustrating that quality Ontario products can be successfully marketed around the world.

The AAC is a non-profit coalition of 55 agricultural, agri-business and rural organizations dedicated to providing financial resources to assist Ontario’s agri-food sector and rural communities to remain competitive, grow and maintain their economic strength. The AAC receives its funding through Ontario's share of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) $60 million-per-year Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development (CARD) fund.

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For more information:

Nadine Buitenhuis
Communications/Program Coordinator
Agricultural Adaptation Council
Phone: (519) 822-7554
Fax: (519) 822-6248
e-mail: Nadine's e-mail 
Web site: www.adaptcouncil.org