Scheduled to be fully operational in 2010, our cannery is estimated to have the capacity to turn out some one million meals in its first full year of production alone. More importantly, as funds become available, we estimate being able to provide for up to 30 vocational training positions in our cannery and throughout our food processing facility.
COMPA was blessed with the opportunity to purchase a full-production canning line from a major product manufacturer who was closing their Colorado plant. As we looked at ourselves and asked the hard questions, it was evident that COMPA Ministries was called to pursue purchasing the canning line and establishing our vocational training program.
As we analyzed the needs of the community, we found that the quality and quantity of traditional food donations were continuing to decline and most food donations were typically high in fat and carbohydrates and lacked protein. Believe it or not, obesity is a real issue among the homeless and low-income population and anything we can do to provide healthy, nutritious meals is worthwhile.
In response to these needs, our cannery will produce low-fat, high-protein meals, starting with beans and Canadian bacon (the highest grade, lowest fat bacon available) and potentially expanding in the future.