August 31, 2007

Canola Council names new vice-president of crop production - Chris Anderson has taken on the role of vice-president of crop production following the promotion of JoAnne Buth to president.

Anderson joined the Council in January, and has been serving as crop production program manager, responsible for the Canola Agronomic Research Program, pesticide harmonization issues and the Canola Export Ready program. Previously, he worked for Monsanto Canada in product development and quality assurance.

Cargill breaks ground on new crushing plant - Cargill Canada will double its crushing capacity with the construction of a new canola crushing plant right beside its existing plant in Clavet, SK. Capacity will be 1.5 million tonnes annually.

"We are entering a period of rapid global growth in oilseeds and Canadian canola will play a key role in that growth," says Ken Stone, Canadian oilseed manager. "As our North American and world customer base continues to grow for generic and specialty canola oils, the canola producers of western Canada become an even more critical partner to us in serving our valued customers."

Cargill has a number of long-term agreements to supply major food customers with canola oil, including North American McDonald's restaurants. Groundbreaking will take place in the next few months, with construction expected to be complete by November 2008.

VITERRA is the new/old kid on the block in the Canadian grain biz – In a ceremony at its Balgonie, SK, elevator on Thursday, the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool officially changed its name to VITERRA (pronounced Vy–terra). CEO Mayo Schmidt explained that the new moniker stands for "life from the land". The new identity follows the Pool’s acquisition of Agricore United. With revenues estimated at over C$4 billion, the new company will source agricultural commodities through more than 100 grain handling and marketing facilities across the Canadian prairies and operate an agri-products retail network consisting of 276 sites prairie-wide.

Update from Canola Ink August 16 - As reported in the last edition of Canola Ink, Unidine has become trans fat free. The food service provider for hospitals, seniors homes and businesses in 13 U.S. states, has confirmed that it owes its trans-free status to canola oil.

Trans to be restricted in Calgary Health Region – According to a report in the Airdrie Echo, the Calgary Health Region (CHR) will impose trans fat restrictions for food service providers next year. Phase one of the CHR's action against trans fats will take effect Jan. 1, 2008 and require food service providers to use cooking oils and spreads with less than two percent trans fat.

Dr. Brent Friesen, CHR medical officer for health, says with all food service providers in the Calgary region switching to the same type of oils at the same time, concern has been raised about availability. "There's plenty of supply of the oils," he said, adding that information comes from CHR’s working on the restrictions with manufacturers, as well as suppliers and restaurateurs.

The second phase of the CHR's trans fat restrictions takes aim at the trans fat content in manufactured foods, restrictions that could be put in place by June 2008.
According to the CHR, limiting the consumption of trans fats will reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease between six and 22 percent, depending on the types of alternative products chosen.

Canadian capital votes down trans ban from city food services - City council in Ottawa, ON, voted in May against a city-wide ban of trans fat, but apparently it needed to take another look at banning trans from city-operated eateries.

The motion, which was voted down August 29, called for a ban on trans fat beginning January 1, 2008 for all new contracts dealing with 34 canteens, 10 cafeterias and 100 vending machines. It also covered all city-operated daycare facilities and the city's long-term care homes.

City councillor Alex Cullen has championed the motion from the beginning. He says things have changed since May, when the first motion was brought forward. Cullen cited the statement by the federal government giving industry two years to reduce trans fat, but he was unsuccessful in his bid for the ban.

For more information, visit http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=0da71326-0be5-4884-a4b6-81ae91b428e1&k=81004

Ming Tsai touts canola oil on radio programs throughout the U.S. – Popular media chef Ming Tsai, recently signed as spokesman for CanolaInfo, has been heard across the United States following a radio media tour (RMT) earlier this week.

In a RMT, the guest conducts his interviews long-distance with radio hosts in a number of cities from a studio in a different city. Tsai was heard by a total audience of millions spreading the word about canola oil in cities from Sacramento, CA to Cincinnati, OH.

Tsai is co-owner of Blue Ginger restaurant and the Emmy Award-winning television host of East Meets West with Ming Tsai.

But he isn't exactly Florence Henderson! - Wesson has reportedly resumed using the former TV mom as a spokesperson, which is news enough to garner a mention on a CNBC blog.

The blog reports that Henderson's cooking tips can also be found on the Wesson website. The tips include suggestions to make salad dressing with canola oil because it has a light colour and taste and breakfast muffins with canola oil plus using canola oil for baking chicken or french fries.

Canola oil in space - The astronauts and cosmonauts at the International Space Station will be eating cookies made with canola oil, when Canadian Space Agency astronaut Dave Williams takes Canasnacks with him to share with his outerspace colleagues.

Canasnacks are bite-sized sandwich cookies featuring maple, cranberry or blueberry cream filling. Developed by scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, they are made with a variety of Canadian ingredients including maple sugar, cranberries, blueberries, canola oil, oats and lactulose. Canasnacks are shelf stable, meet spaceflight requirements and are designed to help astronauts meet their nutritional requirements while working in space.

Canola biodiesel hit the info highway this week - On Wednesday, August 29, the lead story in the Globe and Mail's Op-Ed online was - Don't dismiss biodiesel - Let canola farmers grease Canada's wheels! It was linked from the printed paper and attracted over 70 blogs during the day. Check the story from the home page of the Canola Council site www.canola-council.org or go directly to http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070828.wcomment0829/BNStory/National/home. Blogs have been terminated but you can always write a letter to the Globe and Mail editor.

Cuban rhythms, beach cabanas and canola oil - What do these have in common? Come March 2008, they will be the talk of the town in Miami Beach, Florida. The Canola Council of Canada is holding its annual convention in conjunction with the National Institute of Oilseed Products March 9-11, 2008 at the Eden Roc Resort. Plans are heating up, with keynote speaker Daniel Esty, author of Green to Gold, already lined up for our opening luncheon. Save the dates and check the Canola Council website in the coming weeks for more details www.canola-council.org.

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