Organic Growth at Galarneau Farms

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

When Alex and Robert Galarneau's father first started looking into organic farming, it was 1981, and not quite the readily accepted practice it is today.

"We got called a lot of things," son Alex recalls, "but 'trailblazers' wasn't one of them."

Alex says he grew along with the industry, working in organic farming since he was 17 years old. Over the last 25 years, the Galarneau farm has gone from a family business to an organic farming and processing business, with nine employees on the payroll and 87 producers on contract.

Alex describes the choice to go organic on the farm as an important matter of diversification.

"Back in the early 1980s, we were fifty-fifty fallow. We knew we would have to go with high inputs or branch off…so we branched off."

Alex says what the family didn't like about their farm business at the time was that they were always dependent on prices and costs that were out of their control. They investigated what was then called "chemical free grain" and decided it offered better control of their own resources, and possibly a better way to make a living from farming.

Galarneau Farms was one of the first to bring organic certification to Saskatchewan, and that certification put them on the map. Other producers who were attracted to the organic market didn't always want to handle the marketing aspects, and Galarneau Farms became known as the people to ask.

"We were always out there, ready to share information," says Alex. "Some people didn't want to do their own marketing, so they relied on our expertise."

It's expertise that pays to know: Alex says every farm working with them can generally be guaranteed a profit on an average crop year.

"We're very free with our information," says Alex. "We always have people coming in and asking for advice on how to get started, whether they should (get into the business), that kind of thing."

Alex says for producers considering branching off into organic production, there are some very important considerations.

"You have got to question why. If it's because you're already experiencing financial hardship, I don't know if this will help."

The Galarneaus' marketing expertise also helped them expand into processing of all crops. Today, their facility in Radville does primary cleaning and bagging of hard red spring wheat, kamut, oilseeds and other grains. Alex estimates they market for a land base of approximately 40,000 to 50,000 acres.

The hottest market for Galarneau Farms' product right now is Europe. European markets account for about 80 per cent of their business, as opposed to opportunities in North America, where organics still have some catching up to do.

"Europe is a more mature market," says Alex. "We are still realizing substantial growth in Europe, whereas North America is just kicking into high gear."

Alex estimates that Galarneau Farms' products, especially the kamut wheat, are found in 1,500 different products, from the familiar (pastas and bread) to the new (a variety of kamut-based milk launched in Europe in February 2006).

For more information, contact:

Alex Galarneau or Robert Galarneau
PHS Organics/Galarneau Farms
Phone: (306) 869-2926