Farmers from Avonlea, Sask., who recently reclaimed 100 percent ownership in their pulse processing plant are expanding the facility.
Blue Hills Ventures bought back Legumex Walker Inc.’s 20 percent share in the Blue Hills Processors (2003) Ltd. plant for $1.8 million.
The company is now expanding to bolster its processing capacity. Storage will rise to 15,000 tonnes from 12,000 tonnes and another receiving and bulk loading area will be added. As well, a third cleaning line may also be built and the company hopes to move from a 50 rail car to a 100 car loading facility.
It also plans to broaden beyond pulse crops into durum, canola and flax.
“That’s one of the directions we were going into that Walkers weren’t interested in,” said Nelson.
The expansion is about one-third complete. The pads are poured and the bins have been bought. Some have already been installed.
Blue Hills wants to see how the post-single desk marketing environment evolves before configuring the remainder of the bins and deciding whether another cleaning line is required.
