Organic Update In Bruno A Must For Industry With Bright Outlook

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Agribusiness Development Specialist Don Perrault wouldn’t miss it for the world. The Organic Update, scheduled to take place at the Prairie Ursuline Centre in Bruno on February 15 and 16, is a must for any producer in this promising sector of the agricultural economy.

“The Organic Update is a two-day event targeting the organic community across Saskatchewan, but also outside the province, as we have noticed an increasing number of participants from other Prairie jurisdictions attending.

“This is the fourth year that we have held such an update,” says Perrault. “In the first two years, we held one-day events in Melfort. Last year, we changed the format to a two-day event and we moved to this unique facility.”

Organizers say holding the event in Bruno makes sense, as it is a central location and the facility lends itself well to the theme. The town is home to the annual Cherry Festival in August. The Organic Update is the emerging winter tradition.

“The first day we target producers, focusing mostly on organic management practices,” says Perrault. “Sessions will cover both cropping and livestock production in dark brown and black soils. Basically, it is targeting the north and central regions of the province, and scientists will round up the sessions with discussions on soil dynamics, manure management and current organic research.”

Brenda Frick, the Prairie Co-ordinator for the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, organizes the day.

“Essentially,” explains Perrault, “day one focuses on interviews with over 30 successful organic producers. We will also bring a panel of expert organic farmers to highlight their innovative practices.”

At the end of day one, there will be an all-organic supper hosted by the Prairie Ursuline Centre. This is always a treat.

“On day two, we are targeting more marketing and processing,” Perrault goes on. “We will start with an update on the organic beef market—what potential exists there. And then there will be an update on the organic meat development strategy.”

SAF Livestock Development Specialist Sandy Lowndes has been working with organic meat producers, and she will report some of her findings.

“We’ll also have a speaker from Farmer Direct in Regina who will expand on markets, who is buying what in the organic field. This will be followed by a discussion on adding value to organic grains through processing with a representative of Northwest Community Mills Co-operative Ltd., an organic producer processing group located at Maymont. The group has just come back from Europe on a fact-finding trip, and they will report on their findings.”

“There will be a short presentation by some of our staff on developing ideas and resources that can help to develop your idea as an organic producer,” continues Perrault. “In the afternoon, we have a speaker from Pure Source, which is a company that has done a good job in the organic sector, encouraging the processing of organic products. The business of processed organic food will be discussed.”

This will be followed by a presentation on resources available at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre in Saskatoon for creating an organic food product.

“Our last speaker is Don Mitchell. He will talk about the politics of food, as he has written a book on the subject: ‘Grow Locally, Eat Locally, the Market Politics of Food.’ This will be music to our ears: he encourages consumers to eat locally.”

For more information, contact:

Don Perrault
Agribusiness Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 953-2361

Brenda Frick
Prairie Co-ordinator
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
(306) 966-4975