Part 3/13:
Local residents recount the sense of false security when they believed their community was insulated from global forces. One resident expressed a bittersweet realization, saying, "You think you're insulated from the greater world." The closure is not just about lost jobs; it’s a loss of identity and community stability.
The External Forces Behind the Closure
Mighty Inc., a Utah-based corporation that acquired Wholesag in 2017, cited macroeconomic and operational challenges as the primary reasons behind the shutdown. According to their statement, rising production costs, fluctuating tariffs, and unpredictable trade policies made operating in Ontario unsustainable.