A group of Manitoba farmers is attempting to set up the province’s
first organic elevator.
The Canadian Organic Commodity Marketing Co-op Ltd. purchased a closed
Agricore Co-operative elevator in Arden, Man., in July 2001. It plans
to use the 18,000-tonne facility to clean organic grain this fall.
Before that happens, the farmers need to raise a minimum of $50,000
through a share offering that closes on June 30.
They hope the $50,000 will attract another $200,000 through matching
grants to pay for renovations and for the first year of operating costs.
Read Also
Agri-business and farms front and centre for Alberta’s Open Farm Days
Open Farm Days continues to enjoy success in its 14th year running, as Alberta farms and agri-businesses were showcased to increase awareness on how food gets to the dinner plate.
Project manager Tracey Winthrop-Meyers said some of the big-ticket
items that money will pay for are the demolition of an unsalvageable
annex and the installation of a small food-grade processing and
cleaning plant.
Once those projects are complete, the elevator will be ready to start
processing certified organic grains such as wheat, oats, barley, flax
and buckwheat.
“It will be 100 percent organic. We won’t be taking any conventional
grains,” said Winthrop-Meyers.
The co-op will not clean any organic canola because of the possibility
of GM contamination.
Manitoba Agriculture’s organic specialist said it will be the
province’s first organic elevator and should help kick-start the
industry.
“It would be a real boost for the organic sector, no doubt,” said John
Hollinger.
He said the province has about 275 certified organic farmers who grow
about 60,000 acres of crops. Another 15,000 acres are in transition.
The elevator should prompt farmers to seed more organic grain within a
160 kilometre radius of Arden.
“Right now they’ll be relying on drawing grain from far and wide
because there wouldn’t be enough acres right around Neepawa and Arden
to keep them going.”
Winthrop-Meyers said 20 farmers from across the province have already
taken out memberships in the marketing co-op. Another 30 have indicated
they will support the project, but have yet to invest.
She said provincial regulations prevent her from getting into the
specifics of how the share offering is going to work, but Hollinger
said the co-op will be raising money through a combination of
investment shares, delivery shares and memberships.
He doesn’t expect the group will have any problem meeting its $50,000
investment target by the deadline.
Winthrop-Meyers said the elevator will have to be certified by the
Organic Producers Association of Manitoba before it can open for
business. If everything goes as planned, the co-op expects to be
operating the plant in time for fall delivery.
She anticipates cleaning between 12,000 and 15,000 tonnes of grain in
the first year of operation. The elevator will initially employ one or
two full-time workers.
