k awartha l akes Fast Facts

• Kawartha Lakes is located just 90 minutes northeast of Toronto

• Ranked 2nd in Canada (2022) for being a top city to move to by Zoocasa

“70 per cent of the money that comes into the dairy stays within 100 miles of our dairy and 80 per cent of it stays within Ontario,” says Bruce. “That’s huge. Not very many companies can say that.”

Work-life balance and family time are also important values for the VandenBergs, who close their plant on Sunday as a day of rest for themselves and their employees.

Continuing to grow

For 2023, Mariposa Dairy will focus on growing their sheep cheese product lines, which currently account for just two per cent of their production. In addition, there are efforts underway to streamline systems and improve efficiencies.

“One thing you can count on at Mariposa Dairy is that you’ll work from Monday to Saturday, but as for everything else, there is no guarantee,” says Bruce. “We are constantly trying new things.”

Their commitment to innovation is part of how the VandenBergs intend to leave a legacy of positive impact within the community.

“The business has outgrown way past what we ever thought it would,” says Bruce. “The reason we got here is we had people who believed in us, trusted us, and gave us opportunities. One of the reasons why we grow the way we are is we, in turn, are trying to give back to our staff and back to the Kawartha Lakes community. We feel that’s our responsibility. It’s been quite a go and there’s lots of potential for the future.”

• Ranked 11 th in Canada (2022) for being a top city to buy real estate by MoneySense

• 289,400 people in the regional labour force all within a one-hour drive

• 298,500 regional post secondary students from nearby Trent University, Ontario Tech University, and Durham College, as well as the Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) & Centre for Advancement in Mechatronics and Industrial Internet of Things (CAMIIT) at Fleming College

• 309,405 acres of agricultural land

• Access to 3 airports – one local municipal, one regional international and one full-service International Cargo offer vast connection opportunities

• Located in close proximity to major markets in both Canada and the United States, serviced by modern multi-lane highways, access to rail services, several airports and deep water seaports on Lake Ontario