International attention on pulses helps local farmers

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Published on Saturday, March 19, 2016

Article submitted by Glen Kirby

The Neepawa Banner 

A six foot tall kidney bean and the United Nations are working to increase demand for beans, peas and lentils in Manitoba;  a win-win for provincial pulse farmers and a start-up company in the Neepawa area.

“It’s a good time to be launching,” says Lewis Pohl, Marketing Manager with Avion Harvest, a wholesale distributor of pulses and grains based in Eden, MB. “In a year from now, we hope to be in some big Canadian chain stores and have a few contracts with other countries.”

Pohl says increased awareness triggered by the 2016 International Year of Pulses (IYP) is helping to open doors.

A coordinated effort among nations, growers groups, scientists and health experts to encourage people to eat pulse crops, IYP was officially launched by the United Nations in Rome late last year, with North American kick-offs in New York City and Toronto in January of 2016. In Manitoba, the Minister and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development took part in a provincial launch in Winnipeg on January 6.

“Pulse crops are nutritious, popular food choices as they are low in fat, high in fibre and a good source of protein, packed with essential nutrients,” Minister Ron Kostyshyn told the crowd. “Manitoba’s 3,800 pulse crop producers have created an industry valued at over half a billion dollars and are playing an important role in building the province’s agriculture industry.”

“Manitoba pulses are good for people and good for the planet,” says Francois Labelle, Executive Director for Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG). “We are excited to be a part of the 2016 global initiative and spread the message that pulses are nutritious, healthy and environmentally sustainable.” 

Since the 1950s, Manitoba pulses have been enjoyed locally and around the world in prepared foods and as cooking ingredients. MPSG’s mission is to provide production knowledge and market development through research, advocacy and collaboration. In recognition of IYP, MPSG is dedicating additional resources to working with new and existing partners on research, pulse products production and promotion, including a sneakers-and-baseball-cap-wearing kidney bean. 

Kid Bean, the new mascot for Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG), debuted in late February at events in Winnipeg and Winkler, MB. Over the next six months, Kid Bean and the MPSG Bean Team will meet with school kids and community groups throughout the province. 

MPSG has also outlined a $50,000 program to reward deserving ideas that increase awareness or consumption of pulses. The Why Pulses? Challenge is open to all elementary and secondary schools, and non-profit community groups in Manitoba. Details can be found at www.manitobapulse.ca.

A Pulse Pledge on the MPSG website asks people to join a global movement by committing to eat pulses twice a week. Pledgers have the opportunity to learn more about pulses through on-line ‘learning modules’ developed in collaboration with Pulse Canada and Ag In The Classroom. 

“Education is key during the International Year of Pulses,” says Labelle, “and our collaboration with AITC-Manitoba is a wonderful way to deliver these important messages. So is Kid Bean!”

MPSG will invest more than $1-million in research projects in 2016, many of which are conducted on-the-farm with the involvement of growers. The spending is less than $1 for every acre in Manitoba seeded with pulses and soybeans but the positive impact of that research on a farmer’s bottom line can be more than $20 per acre.

Efforts within Manitoba and around the world to increase awareness, production and consumption of pulses is welcome news to Pohl and Avion Harvest General Manager Tim Wiebe. Pohl says Avion Harvest proudly supports the provincial agricultural community, sourcing all products from Manitoba farmers.

Now in discussions with distributors in China, Mexico and Canada, Avion Harvest is hoping for wide-spread, wholesale distribution of its lentils, pinto beans, white beans, yellow peas and flax products starting this spring.

“We’re trying to put a name on pulses,” says Pohl. “The competition right now is largely generic brands and we believe that consumers will respond to our efforts to provide not only a quality product but the information that consumers are looking for these days.”

Find out more about Avion Harvest at www.avionharvest.com.