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News Release - January 30, 1997 AGRI-FOOD EQUITY FUND INVESTS IN CANADIAN SELECT GRAINS LTD.
Agriculture and Food Minister Eric Upshall today announced the
Agri-Food Equity Fund will invest up to $500,000 in Canadian Select Grains Ltd. of Eston. Canadian Select Grains Ltd., owned and operated by about 90 shareholder farmers, grows and processes pulse crops in the Eston area. With the new investment from the Agri-Food Equity Fund, the company plans to de-hull and split brown desi chickpeas to produce chana dhal, a food product popular in East Indian and Pakistani cuisine. "Australia is the only other major exporter of chana dhal," Upshall said. "Canadian Select Grains Ltd. has done the market research and has demonstrated its initiative in identifying a new market for its product. The Agri-Food Equity Fund is pleased to do business with Canadian Select Grains." Upshall said the Fund adds value to agriculture through partnerships with Saskatchewan agriculture and agri-food businesses and is an important component of the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food mandate to diversify the industry. Upshall added this investment in Canadian Select Grains Ltd. is also an investment in rural Saskatchewan. Canadian Select Grains' President, Gary Schweitzer, says the Agri-Food Equity Fund's investment will help to construct the chickpea splitting facility. "The completion of this facility will be an important step in developing our local economy," Schweitzer said. "We will now be able to provide a market and add value to chickpeas, thus creating a valuable cropping option for our grower shareholders." Canadian Select Grains Ltd. is the sixth investment made by the Agri-Food Equity Fund since it was established in 1994. The Government of Saskatchewan committed $20 million over a period of five years for the expansion of the value-added sector of the agriculture and food industry. About $17 million remains to be invested over the next four years. Each investment carries a maximum eight year term. Revenues generated from investments are returned to the fund for re-investment in further value-added opportunities. -30- For more information, contact: Jim Babcock Agri-Food Equity Fund 111 Research Drive Saskatoon Phone: (306) 933-7021 |
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