Reading Time: < 1 minute Zurich | Reuters — Food giant Nestle is launching a new plant-based tuna alternative in Switzerland this month ahead of a global rollout, hoping that consumers eating at home during the COVID-19 pandemic will stay eager to try new products. Known for Maggi soups and bouillon cubes, Nestle has been investing in plant-based food to […] Read more
Nestle launching pea-based vegan alternative to tuna
'Vuna' going first to Swiss supermarkets
Plant-protein processor’s new processing plant gets grant
Feds, province put up cash for new equipment
Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal and Manitoba governments have added a seven-figure contribution to their support for a new facility to process plant proteins from canola and peas. Merit Functional Foods will put the additional money toward “new equipment purchases that will support the transformation of raw inputs into value-added goods.” The unspecified new technology is expected to […] Read more
Pea crops strong, but prices falter
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Pea crops across the Prairies are expected to be in good condition ahead of the harvest. “As we go along with the sunshine and heat, the pulses are coming in fairly quickly,” said Darwin Hamilton of Kalshea Commodities in Winnipeg. “Without any excess moisture, the quality should be good this year.” Pea prices […] Read more
Beyond Meat lines up Canadian patty co-packer
U.S. company launches 'latest iteration' of burger line
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the names tied closest to the plant protein-based meat substitute sector has enlisted an unnamed Quebec operation to make its beef-similar patties for the Canadian retail market. Los Angeles-based Beyond Meat on Wednesday launched the “latest iteration” of its flagship Beyond Burger, billed as “produced locally at a co-manufacturing facility in Canada” and […] Read more
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
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
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
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 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
Pulse weekly outlook: Green pea bids back off highs
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Green pea prices in Western Canada have come off their highs in recent weeks, as end users back away from the market. Top-end green pea bids have lost about a dollar per bushel over the past month, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. “A lot of the end users are full now,” said […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
