Poultry sustainability award winner
Farmcrest Foods near Salmon Arm, B.C., has been named winner of the 2016 Canadian Poultry Sustainability Award.
The family-owned company was started in 1999 by Richard Bell and his brother-in-law Alan Bird.
The operation includes a hatchery and poultry barns, feed mill, processing plant, rendering plant and an enclosed mechanical composting for bird mortality.
A crop production operation includes 200 acres of owned land and 400 acres of leased land farmed with potatoes, sunflowers and soybeans.
Farmcrest also has its own poultry retail store and employs 45 people. It is located in an ecologically sensitive area, has an environmental farm plan and has used a certified crop adviser since 2011.
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The company says it strives to improve soil fertility, optimize production, reduce chemical and pesticide use and eliminate synthetic fertilizer to protect the surrounding ecosystem.
By growing about 85 percent of all the feed ingredients their chickens consume, they have reduced the carbon footprint of their operation.
More information about the company is at farmcrestfoods.ca.
Alberta canola commission elects director
John Mayko of Mundare, Alta., was elected to represent region four for the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
Mayko has worked in various roles in crop production at the Canola Council of Canada over his 23 year career.
About 2,000 eligible canola growers in the region were mailed a ballot last November to participate in a secret election for the position.
For more information, visit albertacanola.com.
Plant extract facility receives funding
Mazza Innovation in Delta, B.C., is receiving $1.1 million in federal funding to expand its plant extract production facility.
The company will install Canadian-invented drying and extraction technology and expand its laboratory.
The upgrade will help Mazza meet global demand for phytonutrients, which give plants their vibrant colours and are used as an ingredient for functional foods, dietary supplements and beauty products.
The funding follows previous funding of $300,000 from the federal government to develop a new method of extracting phytonutrients from plants using the most natural solvent possible: water.
Food makers develop innovative products
Cauli Crumble by Big Mountain Foods in South Vancouver is one of 36 new projects receiving more than $2.3 million from the federal and B.C. governments.
The family-owned food processing business is receivingup to $49,250 to develop a meat-free alternative food that can be part of a plant-based diet.
Cauli Crumble is a vegetable ground product that consists of fresh cauliflower, sunflower seeds, fresh red peppers and Manitoba yellow split peas.
The meat-free alternative to soy and gluten can be used in different dishes like pasta, pizza, tacos, salads and casseroles.
Other projects and funding include:
- $45,205 to Heilu for a pilot project to develop sustainable products from locally farmed insects
- $38,400 to HOOH Organic Hop Co. Ltd. for a hop pelletizing project
- $76,010 to Quejos Ancient Foods Inc. to develop a functional, vegetable-based dough
- $50,525 to ZUUN Nutrition to pilot and demonstrate a meal replacement drink mix for people with diabetes
