Ocean Spray project assessment approved
Published Wednesday June 3rd, 2009
Rogersville | Farm development to take 4 years to complete
Ocean Spray's plans to convert 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of land near Rogersville into North America's largest cranberry farm received the stamp of approval from the Department of Environment on Monday.
An environmental impact assessment registered Dec. 19 by the Massachusetts-based cranberry co-operative was the only hurdle standing in the way of the project moving ahead.
A government source confirmed to Canadaeast News the assessment registered by Ocean Spray has been approved, which comes as welcome news to the mayor of the Kent County village.
Rogersville Mayor Bertrand LeBlanc said he can rest easy knowing that the project is now a certainty.
"There's always a little bit of concern in the back of your mind that this might all go away, that something might come in that would sour the deal, but it's a green light and I'm pretty relieved," he said.
"The people at Ocean Spray were always focused on making sure the EIA would go through. They never took their eye off the ball, and my hats off to them for making this happen."
The source said conditions have been put in place to protect water quality and quantity, fish habitat and archaeological resources around the site at Lake Despres.
The first phase of the five-phase, four-year development is slated to begin sometime this month, with details of an official sod-turning ceremony in the village coming within the next few days, LeBlanc said.
Ocean Spray's initial stage of development seeks to establish about 150 acres of cranberry beds and work out any production glitches before moving ahead with an additional 1,750 acres of cranberry bogs over the next four years.
The company has said it plans to invest $90 million into the Rogersville operation, creating about 100 jobs.
Miramichi Centre MLA and Public Safety Minister John Foran said Ocean Spray's presence in Rogersville will benefit the entire region.
"I'm ecstatic about it and, to date, it looks like a great project," he said.
"Rogersville and that part of Kent County has more to do with Miramichi than it does Moncton, so anything that can be done to advance the cause of the Miramichi, I'm happy about it."
Ocean Spray produces two-thirds of the world's supply of cranberries.
During a public meeting in January, company officials said they'd invite the province's 21 cranberry growers to join the co-operative, which is already made up of some 600 members.
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