An artists’ rendition of the Merit Functional Foods plant under construction in Winnipeg. (Meritfoods.com)

Plant protein processor backed for expansion

Lenders arrange up to $85 million for Merit Functional Foods

Reading Time: 2 minutes The money has been lined up to fund a major expansion for a Winnipeg pea and canola protein processing plant that’s still being built. Merit Functional Foods Corp. announced May 4 it has secured a debt financing package of up to $85 million from “a syndicate of lenders” including Export Development Canada, Farm Credit Canada […] Read more

File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Dry pea prices remain firm

Acres expected down from 2019

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Prices for green and yellow dry peas remain fairly good, according to Dale McManus of Johnston Grains at Welwyn, Sask. Green peas are currently $10-$11 per bushel, which he said is a decent price; he also expects green pea acres to remain steady in 2020 compared to the previous year. The price for […] Read more


Construction presses on at Roquette’s pea-processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man. (Roquette photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba pea plant construction continues

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Work continues on Roquette’s pea processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man., where the French plant-protein firm says measures have been taken to meet health and safety regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “Beginning in early March we proactively started collaborating with contractors on COVID-19 prevention measures, such as increased cleaning of communal spaces […] Read more

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Pulse weekly outlook: Lack of willing sellers underpins prices

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Pea and lentil bids in Western Canada are holding relatively steady for the time being, despite anecdotal reports of increased international demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with attention soon shifting to spring seeding. A lack of willing sellers is keeping pulse bids underpinned in Western Canada, according to broker Dale McManus of […] Read more


Wendy’s Canada said its new pea-based Plantiful “ensures flexitarians have a protein alternative that is full of taste.” (CNW Group/Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada photo)

Wendy’s launches Canadian-made plant-based burger

Pea protein patty developed 'in-house,' company says

Reading Time: 2 minutes Burger chain Wendy’s has set out to meet what it says is now an “expectation” in the Canadian quick-service dining sector, with a new pulse crop-based burger. The U.S. chain’s Canadian arm on Thursday announced it has launched a plant-based burger it calls the Plantiful at its 380-plus Canadian stores, using a patty it described […] Read more



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Pulse weekly outlook: More acres sought for 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Planting intentions for red and green lentils and other pulses have been looking good for 2020 — but that might change somewhat because prices have slipped a little, said Marcos Mosnaim of Globeways Canada in Mississauga. Discussing pulse crops at a farm show last month in Saskatoon, Mosnaim said he got the strong […] Read more

File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse Canada looking to build data inventory for industry

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Pulse Canada has undertaken a survey of pea and lentil growers to gauge the sector’s environmental footprint and to provide data for a public repository. The survey is a joint project with Alberta Pulse Growers, SaskPulse and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. The survey is a life cycle assessment of pea and lentil […] Read more


An artists’ rendition of the Merit Functional Foods plant under construction in Winnipeg. Merit also recently picked up support from research “supercluster” Protein Industries Canada to help further develop pea and canola proteins. (Meritfoods.com)

Nestle to source plant proteins from Winnipeg

Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg/Zurich | Reuters — Food company Nestle SA said on Friday it has teamed up with small Canadian plant-based food ingredient makers Burcon and Merit Functional Foods, the second such supply agreement this month that targets Canadian crops. Meat substitutes from plants in burgers, nuggets and many other foods are a fast-growing industry, driving up […] Read more