Pitura Seeds and Nexeed are partnering to host a tour of the Pitura Seeds facility on July 11 as part of the Seeds Canada Annual Meeting in Winnipeg to give industry colleagues a chance to rub elbows and showcase why Manitoba is making waves in the protein and seed processing spaces.
The tour of the new Pitura Seeds facility in Domain (opened in 2019). It’s one of the largest family-owned seed processing facilities in Western Canada. The facility cleans and processes premium seed lots of all crop types. It’s large volume cleaning and processing capacity is designed to handle delicate seed products (eg. soybeans and peas) while maintaining quality. It can also tote and bag processed products in addition to bulk output.
“This Seeds Canada Annual Meeting will be the biggest seed industry group together in one place in two years,” says Nexeed’s Rod Cockerline. “It’s going to be a great meeting and the tour is a chance to really show what our province is capable of in terms of technological vision and seizing new opportunities.”
Pitura Seeds has made a name for itself over the past 70-plus years. Not only is it fully integrated as a seed grower, processor, retailer and end-use contractor, but it’s developed new production partnerships, putting farmers at the forefront of the plant protein economy.
The company has partnered with Protein Industries Canada and Merit Functional Foods to develop pea and canola proteins and bring additional opportunities to western Canadian farmers, notes president Tom Greaves.
“Anytime we can add more processing capacity to our Canadian ag market, that’s a good thing. We’re creating another market that’s bringing value add back to Canadian farmers who grow peas and canola,” he says.
“What we’ve been able to do here with a partner like Nexeed is really cool, as it shows how Manitoba is really at the forefront of what’s happening in our industry right now.”
By understanding the needs of consumers, bakers, millers and flour processors, the grain and seed sectors can utilize new technology to ensure they serve as the primary players in ensuring top-quality food for everyone, Cockerline notes.
“This will be a great chance for everyone to get together and learn some cool things about seed processing in Manitoba and catch up after two years of not seeing each other,” Cockerline says. “This Annual Meeting is going to be a real meeting of the minds and what better place to do that than Manitoba?”
For info on the tour and how to register, please visit the Seeds Canada website.
