The research project, costing a total of $200,000 received funding from AAFC's R&D Matching Investment (MII) Program, and covered all phases of laboratory research up to the development of a new industrial production line. Direct project spinoffs include five permanent jobs and 15 seasonal jobs.

Lyle Vanclief, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, called the program a positive example of an industry/government partnership.

``The R&D Matching Investment Program was designed to support innovative companies,'' said Mr. Vanclief. ``Atoka Cranberries Inc. has taken advantage of the MII program and working in collaboration with AAFC researchers will grow and carve out new markets. I congratulate the company and hope other Canadian agri-food companies follow its example.'' Marc Bieler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atoka Cranberries Inc., said the company is now in position to enter the dried cranberry market. ``This market totals almost US$75 million in the United States alone,'' he said. ``Demand is also rising in Europe and Asian countries where the nutraceutical benefits of cranberries are particularly appreciated.'' Bieler Cranberries Inc., located in St. Louis de Blandford near Quebec City, currently operates the world's largest single site cranberry farm (10 to 15 million pounds per year). Its sister company Atoka Cranberries Inc. is the largest cranberry processor in Canada. Several Quebec growers supply the processing plant which has a capacity of 30 million pounds per year.

The FRDC in St. Hyacinthe has a mission to expand knowledge of food systems and promote innovation and growth in the food industry by providing access to its staff, infrastructure and documentation sources and by facilitating knowledge and technology transfers.