Heather Jonas of Saskatoon is a snacker. So when her doctor told her she had to go on a low-cholesterol diet, she began searching for low-cholesterol snack foods. This search eventually resulted in two new food products and the establishment of a Saskatchewan food processing company called Cool Sun Foods Inc.
At an Edmonton trade show some time after receiving her doctor’s advice, Jonas came across a Mexican pasta-style snack food.
One form of the snack had flavor added with a spray-on oil before it was ready for sale.
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“To meet my personal need, the spray-on oil had to be cholesterol-free, and I decided the best choice I could make was canola oil, which is grown locally,” Jonas said.
“I found a supplier of virgin oil – no additives – and, to further its healthful properties, I added lecithin. To make it environmentally friendly, I chose to sell it in a non-aerosol form.”
The product, which she called Cool Canola, was developed at home.
“I love to invent stuff in my kitchen. I have a grand time. I just play with it until it tastes right.”
She said her non-aerosol spray can be used for popcorn, salads, meat basting and for any other food that needs a healthful oil.
Cool Canola is available in five flavors: garlic, Italian, mesquite, butter and olive oil.
Cool Canola and a Mexican snack food she calls Puffy Pasta are expected to be in Saskatchewan stores by the end of February.
Jonas said consumer response was positive at Mexibition in Saskatoon and Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.
“Agribition is always a good trade show, but last year’s was the best,” she said. “I was approached by a buyer from Hungary and a buyer from an Asian country. Both are interested in importing Cool Canola, and told me to expect to hear from them by June this year.”
The international interest in Cool Canola doesn’t surprise Jackie Blondeau, an international business development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
The 1999 Agribition registered 608 international guests, the highest number since 1989.
They came from 52 countries, and included 243 people from the United States and 138 from Asian Pacific countries.
Saskatchewan Agriculture and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership hosted Agribition’s International Business Centre for two days and last year increased the level of promotion of Saskatchewan processed foods.
“Not only did we have more information and signage, we had more Saskatchewan snack foods available to visitors to the centre.”
Cool Canola was part of that promotion.
