Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Saskatchewan pulse processing company Verdient Foods has entered into a joint venture agreement with U.S. company Ingredion to expand operations. The organic pea protein fractionation facility at Vanscoy, about 20 km southwest of Saskatoon, has been running since last year and the new agreement will see it expand operations to include more […] Read more
U.S. firm partners with James Cameron’s Prairie pulse processor
Their big idea
As Mike Kosaka and Adriane Skaros are learning, it takes determination, toughness, and plenty of smarts to succeed as a local-food startup. How many smarts? Well, read on
Reading Time: 10 minutes Young Zoe Jones and Ava Kosaka have sized me up. The girls are ultra-enthusiastic entrepreneurs. They’ve got a marketing plan, they’ve perfected their product, and — just weeks into production — they’re already watching the dollars roll in. Of course, the girls may be only seven and nine years old, respectively, but they already know […] Read more
Downturn seen in organic markets for malt barley, hemp
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — As organic producers look to clean out the 2017 crop from their bins before seeding, they’re finding lower prices than they’re willing to sell for. Contracts have been filled up, meaning some producers who were waiting for higher prices are out of luck with no options to sell their crops. Some buyers […] Read more
USDA pulls plan to stiffen rules for organic egg farms
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture scrapped proposed rules on Monday that for the first time would have mandated specific space requirements for hens laying organic eggs and spelled out what it means for the birds to have access to the outdoors. USDA determined it did not have the authority to impose […] Read more
Growing potatoes without chemicals
Organic potato production on a commercial scale is a challenge, but one Ontario grower is meeting it
Reading Time: 4 minutes Isaiah Swidersky offers a careful answer when asked if organic potato production is a risk worth taking. “To some degree it is, but there’s a reason I haven’t expanded it to 200 or 300 acres,” Swidersky says. “It’s a challenge to grow organic potatoes. But I’m optimistic. It’s a good challenge.” Swidersky’s operation, Rose Mountain […] Read more
Feds pledge funds for organic standards review
Reading Time: 3 minutes A review and update of Canada’s organic standards for compliance with international norms will get federal funding to make sure it’s complete by its 2020 deadline. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced the government will foot the “necessary funds” to the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to cover the cost of the 2020 Canadian […] Read more
Best Cooking Pulses named finalist for ‘Organic Champion’ award
Reading Time: 2 minutes Best Cooking Pulses, Inc., a Canadian family-owned company that has been active in the international pulse trade for 81 years, has been named as a finalist in the Fi Europe 2017 ‘Organic Champion’ Innovation Awards for its range of ‘BEST’ Certified-Organic Pea Hull Fibers. The Fi Europe Innovation Awards honours professionals and companies for their […] Read more
Whole Foods slashes prices on some produce
Reading Time: 3 minutes Los Angeles/Chicago | Reuters — On its first day as part of Amazon.com, organic grocery chain Whole Foods Market slashed prices on popular items like avocados and apples on Monday by a third as it bid to shake off its “Whole Paycheque” reputation for high prices. In another sign of changes to come, a display […] Read more
‘Natural’ food firm to buy cold-pressed juice maker
Reading Time: 2 minutes The owner of Life Choices Natural Foods and Rolling Meadow Dairy is set to expand its share of the Canadian juice market with a deal for the Toronto maker of Cedar organic and cold-pressed juices. GreenSpace Brands announced Thursday it has signed a cash-and-stock deal by buy the Cold Press Corp. for between $5.385 million […] Read more
Amazon moves into real-world stores with Whole Foods deal
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reuters — Amazon.com said Friday it would buy grocer Whole Foods Market for US$13.7 billion in a move that gives the online retailer a physical network of stores to distribute fresh food and other goods to millennials and wealthy consumers. Amazon, which is known for squeezing suppliers and has been experimenting with its own outlets, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
