Yukon farmers envision 'innovation centre' for territory

The Yukon Agricultural Association wants to put together a business case for an agricultural centre nearWhitehorse.

The association is asking consulting firms for 'Expressions of Interest' to help prepare a business model and planfor facilities on 65-hectares of land the association holds under a long-term leaseon the Mayo Road, about 12 kilometres north of Whitehorse.

"We have a certain amount of money set asidefor the buildingfrom past fundraising, and from past governmentprograms that we've managed to utilize," says association president Al Stannard."Currently what we're seeking is funding to do the business model."

Stannard saysthe centre could serve a multitude of needswithcold storage facilities, a small abattoir, a stage and outdoor ring for the Yukon Horse and Rider Association, and commercial kitchen facilities for people who want to process food items.

"A spot that's been approved and has a controlled environment, so that environmental health would approve them to sell their products in the grocery stores or commercially," Stannard says."Jam, baked goods, that kind of thing. It would be one building that meets a variety of needs."

Stannard says the land could also be used for "orphaned projects," andby farmers looking to test the viability of crops.

"They can prove out their business models and they can take it to farm credit or the banks and that allows them to say not only do we have the idea, we've got proof that our products would be accepted."

Stannard says if a business case can't be made for the proposed centre, the plans will likely be shelved.He says the association doesn't want to compete with independent farms,nor does it want to be a drain on the public purse.

"If there's nobody buying into it, there's no sense in putting anything there."

The association says interested firms should respondbefore June 30th.