Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Southpoint Sun - 9
Nature Fresh introduces compostable cuccumber wrap LEAMINGTON– Nature Fresh Farms has bolstered their sustainable initiatives by releasing a new, 100 per cent home compostable wrap for their Long English Cucumbers — a first in the North American market. An alternative to traditional polyethylene plastic, this film is an environmentally friendly compostable wrap that breaks down in a household compost without leaving behind microplastics. The compostable film will prolong the shelf life of the product and will do so without adding to long-term landfill waste. Made from a starch-based PLA that is derived from plant-based resources including non-GMO corn starch, it is 100
per cent compostable, breaking down naturally into CO2 and water. Each cucumber wrap contains 0.00436 lbs of plastic; this translates to the equivalent of 23-million plastic straws saved from landfill for every five million cucumbers wrapped in the compostable film. Cucumbers are packed in shrink wrap to significantly extend their life by minimizing evaporation. Through the compostable film, Nature Fresh Farms has found a packaging solution that can maintain the shelf life of the cucumber, while meeting the demands of more sustainable packaging alternatives. “The launch of the compostable wrap is a demonstration of our commitment to our consumers wants of reducing
WFCU announces highlights of 36th AGM WINDSOR – WFCU Credit Union increased by 10% over the prior year, held its 36th Annual General Meeting while mortgages and personal loans on Thursday, September 3, virtually have increased by 19%. Members also through the Zoom for Business platform continue to entrust WFCU with their where Marty Gillis, Chair, WFCU Cred- deposits with an increase of 7% over the it Union Board of Directors and Eddie prior year with the total increased 13% Francis, President & CEO, WFCU Credit over the prior year. Union announced to members that de“We must acknowledge that without spite the challenges of Covid-19, WFCU the dedication of our staff, guidance of maintained its services to members, our management teams and support of adapted to new realities, and ensured our Board of Directors, our response members’ financial well-being was pri- to Covid-19 and our accomplishments oritized; while too, maintaining over the past years would a focused approach in meeting not have been possible,” the goals to position the credit “We are happy said Gillis. union for sustained growth, adAs part of the Annual vancement and success. to report, we General Meeting process, In their report to the memberthe following members ship, Mr. Gillis and Mr. Francis are achieving were acclaimed to a threerecognized the results of a sucyear position on the WFCU our goals.” — Board of Directors – Mrs. cessful year. “A number of years ago, we Patricia France and Mr. Vic set out with ambitious goals in Eddie Francis Neufeld. mind, to grow WFCU to be the As part of the Annual preferred financial service proGeneral Meeting, Gillis and vider in our region and across Ontario, Francis confirmed WFCU’s members to gain market share through organic support of asset purchase agreement growth, to build the best credit union, with Education Credit Union. To meet and to meet our members’ needs while the requirements of the proposed agreemaking investments that would ensure ment WFCU Credit Union members votour long-term sustainability,” said Fran- ed on amendments to the credit union’s cis. by-laws. The results of the vote revealed “By building on our strong founda- 98.5 per cent in favour of the amendtion and taking a balanced approach ments. They shared that as a result of to allocating our resources through in- Education Credit Union’s membership vestment in our members, our staff and voting overwhelmingly in favour of the our financial strength, we are happy to partnership and WFCU’s membership report we are achieving our goals,” he approving the by-law amendments, the added. two credit unions will become one OctoIn the treasurer’s report on the credit ber 1, 2020 and Education Credit Union union’s financial position, the financials will become ECU, a Division of WFCU illustrate the credit union’s growth and Credit Union. profitability. Total on book assets have “We appreciate the hard work and increased 13.5% to $3.0 billion as at May dedication of ECU Chair, James McCor31, 2020. Member Service Totals grew mack and the Board, CEO Gary Renouf, to $7.0 billion. WFCU continues to pro- Management and all ECU Staff to move vide excellent lending opportunities to this forward,” stated Marty Gillis, CEO, its members. Commercial activities have WFCU Credit Union.
plastic usage,” said Matt Quiring, Director of Sales for Nature Fresh Farms. “We are excited to be first to market with this initiative in North America and are hopeful this will start a trend with the industry while we continue to lead in sustainable packaging solutions.” In addition, the wrap includes a PLU
pre-printed on the film in compostable ink. This feature allows the entire wrap to be thrown in with backyard compost or in landfills without harming the environment. PLU stickers are commonly made of vinyl and plastic. This new wrap eliminates the need for the additional application.
Kingsville BIA welcomes four new members
KINGSVILLE — The Uptown Kingsville BIA has welcomed four businesses to their membership in recent weeks. The Local Maker Artisan Gift Shop recently opened at 11 Main street East. Pinnacle Plus Realty Ltd. recently opened their new office at
17 Division Street South, while the popular Cheesecake on a Stick joined the membership from their location at 460 Main Street East. Popular produce market, The Willow Tree, has also joined the ranks of the BIA, from their spot at 1827 Division Rd.
Red Sun Farms announce hi-tech growth KINGSVILLE - Red Sun Farms, a vertically integrated high-tech greenhouse grower with locations in Canada, USA, and Mexico, responds to customer demands for locally grown produce with unprecedented levels of investment in all three countries. Red Sun Farms continues to grow year over year, but the investments made in 2020 are outpacing the growth of previous years. This spring, Red Sun Farms began construction on its first phase (27 acres) of a three-phase project totaling 63.8 acres in Kingsville. A second investment for Red Sun Farms in Ontario is underway with an additional 18 acres of high-tech greenhouse farming, which will drastically expand Red Sun Farms’ overall portfolio and bring the total acreage for this location to 42 acres.
“This investment into the Ontario area, will allow Red Sun Farms to better serve our consumers in both Canada & the USA,” says Red Sun President Jim DiMenna. Great things are also happening in Mexico for Red Sun Farms as they are in construction to complete a 25 acre expansion this winter and 50 acres next spring to the existing high-tech greenhouse that will cultivate tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. “The team is very excited to have these initial 25 acres ready for winter 2020, followed by an additional 50 acres in spring 2021,” said Carlos Visconti, CEO Red Sun Farms Canada & USA. “This additional acreage will reaffirm Red Sun Farms as the largest vertically integrated high-tech greenhouse in North America.”
