Reading Time: 3 minutes A Winnipeg pea and canola protein processor in receivership since this spring remains mothballed for now with no firm buyer — but has paid off one of its three secured creditors. Merit Functional Foods, which entered receivership March 1 after just two years’ operation, has sold all its remaining finished and raw inventory and directed […] Read more
Merit Foods pays off operating lender, no deal yet for plant
Plant-based protein processor in receivership since March
Pulse weekly outlook: Pea prices beginning to weaken
'Increased export competition' seen
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — With increased export competition, pea prices in Western Canada have slipped back, according to Levon Sargsyan of Johnston Grains in Calgary. “We are hearing that China slowed their imports down from Canada, which is driving the current decrease in prices,” Sargsyan said. “They have increased their imports from countries like Russia, which is […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: recent rains could stabilize crops
Prices for pulses across Western Canada have been steady
Reading Time: 2 minutes Marketsfarm – Despite the rain the Canadian Prairies received since July 17, MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville pointed out that the major pulse crop areas got very little. While any precipitation has been beneficial to this year’s crops struggling with dry conditions, Jubinville said, it won’t help that much. “In terms of advancing pea and […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Peas heading in different directions
Export demand seen down for yellows
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Prices for green and yellow peas have been starting to move further apart, according to Levon Sargsyan, grain broker with Johnston’s Grain at Welwyn, Sask. Sargsyan pointed out that prices for yellow peas have been slipping back recently. “Export demand has dropped overseas, so that’s been pushing the yellow pea prices down. The […] Read more
Bidding open for Merit Foods for two more weeks
Stakeholder Burcon plans to put up 'compelling bid'
Reading Time: 3 minutes The fate of Winnipeg pea- and canola-based protein processor Merit Functional Foods won’t be confirmed until the end of April at the earliest. Merit, whose major shareholders include Vancouver plant-based protein firm Burcon NutraScience, U.S. agrifood firm Bunge and former executives of Hemp Oil Canada, was placed into receivership March 1. According to the first […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba growers not worried about Merit situation
Pea, canola protein processor in receivership
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — After Manitoba-based plant protein processor Merit Functional Foods went into receivership last Wednesday, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) executive director Daryl Domitruk said it is not a microcosm of the province’s pulse industry. Domitruk said MPSG learned about Merit’s financial situation through the media. He also added that some Manitoba pea growers […] Read more
Merit Foods stakeholder looking to buy company
Burcon 'actively engaged' with company's receiver
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the joint-venture owners of Winnipeg pea and canola protein processor Merit Functional Foods says it’s in talks to buy full control of the cash-strapped company. Two days after Merit entered a court-ordered receivership, Vancouver-based Burcon NutraScience announced Friday it “intends to submit a formal proposal to acquire the business.” Burcon said Merit’s receivership […] Read more
Plant protein processor Merit Foods in receivership
Company owes $95 million to EDC, FCC
Reading Time: 3 minutes The company behind a new Prairie processing plant extracting plant-based proteins from peas and canola has landed in receivership, in the high eight figures’ debt to its secured lenders. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on Wednesday announced it’s the receiver for both Merit Functional Foods Corp. and the numbered company that owns Merit’s processing plant and property in […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Peas seeing good Prairie movement
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Peas are seeing good movement in Western Canada ahead of spring, although prices have held steady over the past month. “The yellow pea market has some life again,” said Allan Johnston of Johnston’s Grain at Wellwyn, Sask. He added there were also a few companies chasing after some coverage for green peas with […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: New Year’s pressure drags on North Dakota peas
Pea prices relatively higher north of border
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Pea prices in North Dakota have been feeling pressure from the New Year, according to Landon Lechler of Beach Co-operative at Beach, N.D., about 360 km south of Weyburn, Sask. Besides the turning of the calendar New Year, Lechler said the upcoming Chinese New Year has slowed export demand for yellow and green […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
