PROVINCE INVESTS IN SASKATCHEWAN FOOD INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Released on March 4, 2005

Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (SAFRR) has invested $16,000 in new production equipment for the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre.

"The investment in the Food Industry Development Centre is really an investment in the future of Saskatchewan's food processing and manufacturing industry - an important and exciting part of the province's growing economy," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said.

The Food Industry Development Centre provides product development, marketing and processing expertise to up-and-coming Saskatchewan food processors. The investment by SAFRR went toward the purchase of an impingement oven, which will be used to assist the Centre and its clientele in manufacturing ready to eat food products for test marketing. An impingement oven has sensitive temprature and moisture controls to prevent drying.

The Centre operates the only federally inspected research and development food processing facility in the province as part of SAFRR's value added food processing strategy.

"The work done by the Food Centre and staff helped our entire industry move into the value-added sector," Canadian Prairie Lamb General Manager Gord Schroeder said.

"Pulse Wise Foods would like to thank the Food Centre for helping us explore the food processing business," Pulse Wise Foods President David Krause said. "The facility provided the equipment and expertise to bring our lentil and feta lasagna to a full scale production run. It is reassuring to know that the Food Centre is available to us for interim processing when we receive commitments from major markets."

The Centre's oven has been a major factor in the production of the "New York Stick," a pre-cooked, hand-held meat snack made entirely from Saskatchewan-grown meats. It's the product of Classic Meats, operated by Lester Lodoen near their Fox Valley farm, and was developed through the partnership arrangement of the University of Saskatchewan, the Food Industry Development Centre, Saskatchewan Food Processors Association and SAFRR.

Consumer testing has shown that significant markets exist for the "New York Stick" across Canada, and potentially in the lucrative U.S. market. The product is currently being marketed in Ontario.

"This is a great example of the potential for value-added food products in Saskatchewan," Lodoen said. "We've got everything we need to make this happen here. Our producers are the best in the world, and we have excellent educational and product development facilities."

"The "New York Stick" is a made-in-Saskatchewan success story," Wartman said. "I expect more such ventures to follow. This province provides excellent opportunities to feed, slaughter and process cattle and pigs. "By creating additional markets for livestock within our own borders, companies like Classic Meats help the industry to seize these opportunities."

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306)787-4031 Cell: (306)536-3851	Lester Lodoen Classic Meats Fox Valley Phone: 1(800)261-2004
Gord Schroeder Canadian Praire Lamb Saskatoon Phone: (306)933-5200	David Krause Pulse Wise Foods Shaunavon Phone: (306)297-6394