BRANDON, Man. (Staff) – The executive director of the Canadian Special Crops Association said a task force that recommended more peas, lentils and canary seed be shipped to northern Europe through Churchill is optimistic.
Don Devers told the Hudson Bay Route Association, advocacy group for the northern Manitoba port of Churchill, that his industry does not see growth in northern European markets. He said exporters of special crops are looking to Pacific Rim countries as growing markets.
Heather Bradley, an economist hired by the task force, estimated that 15 percent of the prairies’ special crop, production could be shipped through Churchill. But Devers said the market could support 10 percent at the most.
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Devers also said that a marketing agency for the port will have to work hard if it plans to convince exporters to use the port. He said exporters need to be approached individually and reassured about costs, storage facilities and shipping time.
“If there’s an economic advantage, they’ll use it. It’s just as simple as that,” Devers said.
He added the task force report recommendations represent “a lot of money.
“Will it pay off? I don’t know, but I know that this group is going to damn well try to make it pay off, I’ve got faith in that.”
