Herb and spice industry looking to boost value-adding

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A conference entitled “Upping Your Value Proposition” will showcase best practices for herb and spice producers in Saskatchewan. The conference will be held February 28 at the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon, after being postponed due to the blizzard that hit the province in early January.

Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association (SHSA) Executive Director Connie Kehler said, “One of the things we’ve seen is that businesses in Saskatchewan need help to do things differently. We’ve got some really good success stories here, and it’s about time we started hearing about them and learning from them.”

The conference is jointly sponsored by the herb and spice association and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). STEP President and CEO Dale Botting will present information to the conference about his agency’s new programs and services to support agriculture.

“Our partnership with STEP has shown us that both of our organizations are respected nationally and internationally,” said Kehler. “We are both from Saskatchewan, and we are out to support production and capture more value.”

Conference sessions will include commercial success stories, such as InfraReady, Pine View Farms and Prairie Berries Inc. Representatives from those businesses will also make themselves available for one-on-one consultative sessions.

Kehler says that an important focus of the meeting will be the so-called “copy cat syndrome,” where many producers rush into planting crops that are perceived to be in demand, and prices are driven down.

“We want to talk about developing unique ideas for new production, and we're always asking what value can be added here in Saskatchewan,” Kehler stated.

The SHSA represents producers, processors and manufacturers of herbs, spices and natural health products. The organization is also the home office for the Canadian Herb, Spice and Natural Health Production Coalition. The SHSA will hold its annual meeting during the lunch break at the seminar.

Kehler says the conference is open to any producer or entrepreneur who is looking for new ideas and inspiration. Anyone interested can obtain more information at the association’s website, www.saskherbspice.org, or by calling (306) 694-4622.

For more information, contact:
Connie Kehler, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association
Phone: (306) 694-4622
Website: www.saskherbspice.org