For years, Canadians have been left in a bit of pickle: it’s a challenge to find a gherkin in a local grocery store that was produced here at home.
As a country, we imported $95.8 million worth of pickled cucumbers and gherkins in 2019. Looking at product labels, you’ll see the vast majority of products come from the United States or India.
CO-OP GOLD PURE® Pickles and Relishes might not have the mileage of others on the shelf, but they certainly pack a punch. Canadian-grown and Canadian-made, they truly are the pick(le) of the bunch.
It all starts with our long-term relationships with the Prairie Fresh Food Corporation (PFFC) and The Cucumber Man growing and supplying the main source ingredients.
Incorporated in 2013, PFFC represents 23 vegetable producers of all sizes — from small market gardens to larger commercial farms — across Alberta and Saskatchewan. The organization provides select Co-op Food Stores with many fresh local fruits and vegetables throughout the year.
“When Co-op works with and promotes local producers, it drives industry growth and investment in the Prairie provinces,” said Bryan Kosteroski, Operations Director of PFFC. “Without their involvement, you wouldn’t see a continual supply of Western Canadian-grown vegetables in stores — you’d see mostly American produce.”
Wayne Stigter was born and raised in the cucumber business. His family immigrated to Canada after the Second World War through sponsorship from Albertan sugar-beet farmers. The family worked in sugar-beet farming for a number of years before eventually starting their own farm in Redcliff, Alta.
While he continues to work on the same land he was born and raised on, having taken over the family business in 1995, Stigter worked with Rick Wagenaar in a separate venture. This venture acquired other greenhouses in the area, including The Cucumber Man, which would become the brand of the new business.
The Cucumber Man has a simple commitment: stay fresh and stay local, emphasizing products packaged right off the vine. They’re committed to growing practices that highlight the natural flavours of the produce, using heirloom seed varieties that focus on flavour, colour and food-safety traceability.
Proudly Western Canadian
To support the development of these new pickle and relish products, Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) contributed $500,000 to a major expansion project at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) in Saskatoon.
The Food Centre’s expansion, estimated at $7.5 million, includes new canning equipment that the centre will use to bring more locally grown products to Co-op customers. Co-op Gold Pure Pickles were one of the first products to come off the canning line.
“Co-op contributes to multiple stages of the food-production life cycle: supporting farm customers getting seed in the ground, turning those raw ingredients into value-added products and making them available to consumers in stores across Western Canada,” said Shelley Revering, FCL’s Farm-to-Fork Manager.
Revering said one objective is to offer customers safe, delicious products that are raised, grown and produced in the West. She added Co-op’s committed to supporting its communities, making investments that support farm customers and contribute to economic growth.
“We’re in a unique position to make meaningful connections, not only between Co-op and consumers shopping in food stores and farm customers but also connections between the two groups,” she said.
The Co-op Gold Pure Pickles and Relishes represent a great step forward in achieving these objectives, offering a new product grown and produced in Western Canada in a way only Co-op can. Featuring all locally grown cucumbers, dill and garlic, pickles taste closer to homemade than anything you normally find in a supermarket.
BOOST THE FLAVOUR!
Boost the flavour of your favourite foods with Co-op Gold Pure Pickles and Relish. Visit www.food.crs to find recipes for burgers, hot dogs and more – including our Kickin’ Pickled Caesar.
