33,000 square foot facility is Canada’s largest dedicated plant medicine facility
Building on 33 years of success as a leading provider of plant medicine in Canada, St. Francis Herb Farm recently announced the opening of the country’s largest dedicated plant-based medicine facility. The 33,000 square feet of space is dedicated to craft products to help enhance and protect the health and wellness of Canadians.
Built in Barry’s Bay, Ontario, the new site unites St. Francis Herb Farm operations for product research and development, production, distribution and warehousing, and allows expanded manufacturing capabilities, with the goal to add 12 new roles to the existing team of 50+ staff.
“When my parents started St. Francis Herb Farm, back in the summer of 1988 in the kitchen of their old farm house, they had a goal to help people live healthier lives. I know they had no idea that our wellness community would grow to this scale in Canada and we are grateful to our many dedicated and long-term customers who have supported us across Canada for all these years,” declared Paul Rivett-Carnac, President, CEO and Co-owner of St. Francis Herb Farm. “This latest milestone is all the more special as we finally cross the finish line of this project which began 4 years ago, and now the stage is set to celebrate the company’s 35th anniversary in 2023!” he added.
To mark the opening on the new site, the team at St. Francis Herb Farm held an employee and community event (socially distanced and following all safety protocols) to unveil and tour the site, highlighted with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of a garland featuring some of the typical flowers, herbs and plants used in the company’s coveted herbal remedies. Key local representatives who spoke at the event included: Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke; John Yakabuski, MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke; and Madawaska Valley Mayor, Kim Love.
“The added capability at the new site further ensures business vitality for St. Francis Herb Farm as we maximize product supply and innovation, all the more important given the growing demand for natural wellness products, which is especially evident as Canadians seek to proactively manage their health during the ongoing pandemic and the return of cold and flu season,” added Rivett-Carnac.
A recognized pioneer in the Canadian natural health space, St. Francis Herb Farm fully manufactures its brand of over 100+ herbal health products, available across Canada. The company also regularly collaborates with Health Canada to help define regulatory considerations for quality and efficacy.
The wholistic herb approach, unique to St. Francis Herb Farm, specializes in herbal extraction and its product lineup features award-winning offerings such as Deep Immune, Strest, and Canadian Bitters. Other product ranges include tinctures, herbal capsules, creams, salves and herbal oils. featuring the use of organic herbs, craftmanship and science, have driven its reputation of high quality.
Community Partners Helped Ensure Project Completed On Schedule
The St. Francis Herb Farm team worked in close collaboration with government and community stakeholders, neighbours and construction partners from Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. and Zuracon Inc. to complete the project. Farm Credit Canada financed the initiative, and the team worked closely with SPH Engineering Inc. who assisted with design along with the Township of Madawaska Valley and the County of Renfrew.
This past summer, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, announced
a $1 million grant from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund to help with the site build, stating “This project is making a significant impact in communities and economies across the Ottawa Valley and Eastern Ontario. It is enabling long-term measurable outcomes, including private-sector investment, job creation and retention, and strong regional growth.”
Prior to the start of construction, the members of the St. Francis Herb Farm family conducted community outreach efforts, with near-in neighbours with door to door visits to provide updates about plans and to offer thanks for ongoing support during the construction process. Community members are invited to an open house on Saturday, November 13th, 2021 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.