(PortOfHalifax.ca)

Ottawa expected to ‘officially’ declare ag an essential service

The Western Grain Elevator Association says that designation will clarify things and help to keep grain moving

Canada’s grain industry expects the federal government will soon officially declare agriculture an essential service. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), says that designation will have a practical application. “Hopefully it ends all confusion about grain workers at elevators, railway workers and anybody else required for moving grain, as to […] Read more

The business now produces about 21 different garlic products.

Finding their niche

Starting out with seven acres the McBains now process 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of garlic a year

In 1996, as a farm diversification project, Krista and Dave McBain planted seven acres of garlic on their grain farm near White Fox, Saskatchewan. Today their company, M & M Garlic is one of the largest garlic processors in the province, processing between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds a year. “We were looking for a commodity […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill expands food starch line-up in ‘clean label’ push

New York | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill said on Tuesday it will increase its offerings of starch product options, seeking to capture rising demand for simpler ingredients and to meet changing consumer tastes. The Minneapolis-based agribusiness will now sell new “native starches” produced from plants such as corn and wheat, as an alternative […] Read more



It is hard to determine if there is a good or bad guy in this whole story. The end of the ketchup wars will come down to the taste test.

Ketchup is not just a condiment

Lee Hart’s saucy commentary on Canada’s recent ketchup brand wars

I do want to tell you about the immeasurable grief and misery our tiny band of adventurers endured last month in setting up the upper camp before our final assault on Everest, but to more important things first — what are your thoughts on the recent ketchup war in Canada? Are you in the French’s or […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Wal-Mart jumps into milk processing

Reuters — Wal-Mart said it will build a dairy processing plant in Indiana to supply private-label milk to about 600 stores, curtailing business with some suppliers in the retailer’s sole foray into food processing in the U.S. The move — announced by Wal-Mart last Friday but not widely reported by media until Tuesday — helped […] Read more


(Eggs.ca)

U.S. bird flu causes egg shortage, emergency measures

Chicago/New York | Reuters — As a virulent avian influenza outbreak continues to spread across the Midwestern U.S., some egg-dependent companies are contemplating drastic steps — importing eggs from overseas or looking to egg alternatives. A spokeswoman for Archer Daniels Midland said that as egg supplies tighten and prices rise, the food processing and commodities […] Read more

grocery shopper in meat aisle

COOL may be the right direction

Labelling of origin and other functional characteristics will become more important

The confirmed new case of BSE in Alberta on Feb. 13 has caused Chian, Peru, Belarus and Taiwan to place temporary restrictions on Canadian beef. South Korea temporarily suspended imports immediately after the confirmed case while Indonesia has placed temporary restrictions on some non-edible meat products. The ability to persuade or educate the consumer is […] Read more