As an on-farm processor and retailer, Twin Peaks Creamery has worked with both SaskHealth and SaskMilk to establish itself.
To long-timers in the dairy industry, it may be surprising that SaskMilk is open to the concept, but Art Pruim believes the organization is growing with the changes rather than challenging them.
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Twin Peaks wasn’t the first on-farm processor in the province, and likely won’t be the last. So, in 2019, SaskMilk started developing a cottage industry policy to support such small businesses.
Julie Ell, SaskMilk communications co- ordinator, said entrepreneurial enterprises are opportunities for dairy farmers, the dairy industry and the consumer.
“(Farmers are) able to also take (milk) and develop it into these kinds of more niche products that people are looking for now. Like we all know how consumer preferences change.
“So, whether it be like on-farm ice cream or cheese or different kinds of percentages of milk, or these really heavy creams, we have these producers that are kind of targeting these audiences and having a ton of success.”
SaskMilk’s support was established in May 2022 with launch of its Saskatchewan Cottage Industry Program policy. It’s based on the longstanding British Columbia cottage processing policy.
Some on- and off-farm processors were established even before the Saskatchewan policy was launched but SaskMilk had heard “rumblings” that more producers wanted to get into the space, said Ell.
The policy was built with a goal to support small processors, she added. It’s also a chance for people to diversify revenue streams.
“The genesis of those changes just came from producers and farmers doing it already. There have been a few on-farm processors that were in progress before this policy was ever created. And I think just the realization that they’re an important factor for the Saskatchewan dairy industry, and then wanting to support other farmers.”
The policy outlines application, eligibility, benefits, the on-farm processing program and the discount milk program.
On-farm processors are eligible for a transportation rebate, which is a kind of kick back for keeping milk on their farms. As transportation costs are pooled, the milk that doesn’t enter the SaskMilk system doesn’t have the applied transportation costs, acting like an incentive to keep milk on the farm.
For SaskMilk, supporting these endeavours is a “natural progression of industry following consumer desires,” said Ell.
