An egg processing plant that will produce a variety of egg products, primarily liquid eggs, is expected to open in Lethbridge in November.
Joe Kleinsasser, a Lethbridge area egg producer and vice-chair of Egg Farmers of Alberta, said Egg Processing Inc. (EPIC) is a farmer-owned co-operative with 135 shareholders from across the province. All are current table egg quota holders and most are Hutterite colonies.
The new plant, being developed in part of the former Alpha dairy facility in Lethbridge, will market at least five products initially and possibly more later if all goes according to plan.
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Products will include liquid eggs, boiled and peeled eggs, dried egg shell, membrane and free-range liquid egg products.
“The idea is to have an Alberta brand,” said Kleinsasser.
He said demand is growing for egg products from free-range chickens. Greater supply is needed so that will be one market the plant will tap.
“In the start-up stages, we might have to source eggs from out of province, possibly Saskatchewan, but the intent is to have enough free run barns in Alberta so we can have an Alberta-made product,” he said.
“It’s a niche market and it seems like it’s a growing market.”
EPIC chief executive officer Bruce Forbes said the immediate goal is to get the egg-breaking line operating in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency approved plant.
The plant will draw non-table eggs from current graders. Those eggs are now shipped to plants in British Columbia and Manitoba for further processing into products used in bakeries and restaurants.
Forbes said there will be little waste in the plant.
“Nothing of the egg will be unused. We will be processing the entire product.”
Shells that would ordinarily go to landfills will be dried, powdered and shipped to customers for use in paints, glucosamine and other products. Membrane will go to a U.S. customer for use in collagen and other products.
Besides money from shareholders, EPIC received grant funds from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency.
“The business plan has been well received,” said Forbes.
The plant will employ 13 people in its first year, which may grow to 22 once the plant is fully operational.
Kleinsasser said Alberta egg producers have wanted a plant in the province for more than 10 years. An initiative in Airdrie, Alta., several years ago, aimed at the pharmaceutical industry, went bankrupt.
“This time it seems like we’ve got the horse in front of the cart.”
Equipment is still being installed, and personnel are working with the CFIA on food safety requirements.
