Voter registration for APG’s virtual annual general meeting is now open. Click here to register and for more information about the provincial AGM on January 27 at 3-4 pm.
Also, make sure you tune into the AGMs of Alberta Canola and Alberta Wheat during the same week. More information on those events is available through the Event sections of their commission websites.
Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC), Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) once again invite producers to a hands-on grain grading workshop following last year’s highly successful event.
This year, Making the Grade has grown to include two locations. Hosted at the Beaverlodge Research Station July 25 and Olds College July 27, each event will include sessions from experienced industry speakers on barley, canola, pulse and wheat grading.
“Making the Grade is a valuable tool in addressing knowledge gaps in grain grading,” said Jason Lenz, Alberta Barley chair and regional representative for AWC. “Expanding to two locations will allow more producers the opportunity to learn about the importance of grain grading and factors affecting quality.”
Producers will participate in hands-on grading workshops for barley, canola, wheat and pulses. Speakers, representing organizations including the Canadian Grains Commission, the Canadian International Grains Institute and the Canola Council of Canada, will guide participants through the details of grading parameters and practices. As well, representatives from Rahr Malting and SGS will be speaking.
Grading for all crops – barley canola, pulse and wheat – is an important part of producers’ bottom line.
Space is limited and early registration is encouraged. Early bird registration is $75 until July 11 and $100 after that until tickets are sold out. Complete registration information and details are available on each host commission’s website.
Ellen Cottee
Communications Coordinator
Alberta Barley
T 403-219-7914
E ecottee@albertabarley.com
The Alberta Pulse Showcase was a successful Alberta event as part of the 2016 International Year of Pulses celebration. In partnership with the Alberta Pulse Growers and Alberta Agriculture & Forestry’s Food and Bio-Processing Branch, new products were developed with industry partners that used Canadian peas, beans, faba beans and their fractions.
Products presented at three Alberta Pulse Showcase events in 2016 included:
Continuing beyond 2016, the goal is to further increase awareness and the local consumption of pulses and pulse ingredients in value-added food products.
Watch the videos below to see the highlights from The Alberta Pulse Showcase events that took place in November 2016.
The Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG) is proud to celebrate the International Year of Pulses 2016 by supporting teams from Leduc’s Food Processing Development Centre and Brooks’ Food Science and Technology Centre in the development of food products incorporating pulse ingredients.
“APG is very excited to share these delicious food products that inventively use pulses grown by Alberta farmers,” said APG Chair Allison Ammeter. “We have been working on this project with the scientists from the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry centres throughout 2016, and we couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to the International Year of Pulses than sharing the creations they developed with the intent to commercialize.”
APG invites you to connect with the talented scientists, as well as experts from many facets of the pulse industry, as you learn about — and sample — an array of innovative pulse products, such as licorice, macarons, kettle-cooked chips and meat bars.
What: The Alberta Pulse: Showcasing Alberta Pulse Products
When: Wednesday, November 30 – 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Executive Royal Hotel & Conference Centre – 8450 Sparrow Drive, Leduc, AB
The United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses, which are the edible dry seeds of legumes. For pulse producing nations like Canada, 2016 is a year of events, activities and initiatives aimed at increasing consumer awareness and consumption of pulses.
Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) is pleased to be involved in Making the Grade this year, said APG Director-at-Large John Kowalchuk, who is also APG’s Extension Committee Chair.
“With the increased acres of pulses being grown this year,” he said, “we want to make sure that our growers understand the quality characteristics, how their pulse crops are graded, and how to preserve quality in the harvesting, storage and handling process to maximize their returns.”
(Calgary, Alberta) Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC), Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) once again invite producers to a grading workshop following last year’s successful event.
This year’s Making the Grade workshop will take place July 26 at Lakeland College in Vermilion and will include sessions from experienced industry speakers on barley, wheat, canola and, new for this year is the addition of pulse grading.
“Last year’s Making the Grade proved to be a valuable tool in addressing knowledge gaps in grain grading,” said Terry Young, AWC and ACPC director and member of the Western Grain Standards Committee’s wheat subcommittee. “Understanding grain grading and factors affecting quality is important for all crop producers as it affects their bottom line.”
Producers will participate in hands-on grading workshops for barley, canola, wheat and pulses. Speakers representing organizations such as the Canadian Grains Commission (CGC) and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) will guide participants through the details of grading parameters and practices.
Space is limited and early registration is encouraged. Early bird registration is $75 until July 14, and $100 from July 15 until tickets are sold out. Complete registration information and details are available on each host commission’s website or at www.making-the-grade-2016.eventbrite.ca.
Ellen Cottee
Communications Coordinator
Alberta Barley
T 403.219.7914
The Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) is pleased to announce that a Member Statement recognizing 2016 as International Year of Pulses (IYP) will be presented in the Alberta Legislature tomorrow.
Strathcona-Sherwood Park MLA Estefania Cortes-Vargas is expected to speak about the United Nations-designated year honouring beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas during the afternoon session.
“APG is thrilled that IYP will be given this special attention in the Alberta Legislature,” said Sylvan Lake area farmer Allison Ammeter, Chair of APG and the IYP Canada Committee. “IYP draws attention to important global issues like nutrition, food security and environmental sustainability. Attention generated by IYP activities like this will ensure the Alberta industry will continue to grow and keep Alberta pulses competitive at the farm level. It also emphasizes the important role that beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas play in contributing to healthy people and a healthy planet.”
Prior to the Member Statement, local companies that produce foods made with pulses will be offering samples to the MLAs and others in the lower Legislature rotunda. The samples will include No Nuts Pea Butter from Mountain Meadows, gluten-free baked goods from Kinnikinnick Foods, and soup from Souptacular Soup Company.
“IYP is an opportunity to capture the attention of consumers and the food industry, to demonstrate how incorporating more pulses into their diets and food products can improve nutrition and also support the environment,” Ammeter said. “It will leverage the international focus on pulses to build more demand for the pulses that Alberta growers are producing.”
Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, also sees a bright future for Alberta pulses.
“Alberta’s pulse industry has significant potential for helping agriculture to further diversify while it also plays a vital role in addressing global food security and malnutrition issues,” he said.
As people eat more pulses, Alberta farmers will sell more pulses, Ammeter explained. This will contribute to APG’s mission and new five-year strategic plan to increase pulse consumption by 100 grams per capita per week. A focused action for APG is to influence the development of pulse products to increase pulse consumption in domestic and key international markets, as well as to develop a vibrant value-added processing industry in Alberta.
Another target of the APG strategic plan is to increase the arable land planted to pulse crops in Alberta from eight per cent to 15 per cent over five years. This past growing season, Alberta farmers grew pulses on 1.8 million acres.
Join the Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) by taking the Pulse Pledge today as Canadian International Year of Pulses (IYP) activities launch at a Pulse Feast in Toronto. Pulse Feasts are taking place today in different time zones around the world to celebrate the United Nations-declared year.
Allison Ammeter, Chair of APG and the IYP Canada Committee, will attend Canada’s Pulse Feast hosted by Chef Michael Smith of Food Network Canada. Launch guests will be encouraged to take the Pulse Pledge, a commitment to increase pulse consumption to improve their health and nutrition.
“Pulses are so great for health and the environment that encouraging more people around the world to take the Pulse Pledge is something we can all feel good about,” said Ammeter, who already enjoys eating and cooking with the pulses grown on her family’s farm. “If you are new to pulses, pledge to incorporate them into your diet once a week for 10 weeks to start. If you are already eating pulses, pledge to eat pulses three times a week. How about including half a cup of pulses into your diet every day? It quickly adds up to improved nutrition!”
As people eat more pulses, Alberta farmers will sell more pulses, Ammeter explained. This will contribute to APG’s mission and new five-year strategic plan to increase pulse consumption by 100 grams per capita per week. Another focused action for APG is to influence the development of pulse products to increase pulse consumption in domestic and key international markets, as well as to develop a vibrant value-added processing industry in Alberta.
This will, in turn, contribute to the realization of another target of the APG strategic plan, which is to increase the arable land planted to pulse crops in Alberta from eight per cent to 15 per cent over five years. This past growing season, Alberta farmers grew pulses on 1.8 million acres.
“IYP is an opportunity to capture the attention of consumers and the food industry, to demonstrate how incorporating more pulses into their diets and food products can improve nutrition and also support the environment,” Ammeter said. “It will leverage the international focus on pulses to build more demand for the pulses that Canadian growers are producing.”
The IYP Canada Committee consists of representatives from APG and its counterparts in other provinces, Pulse Canada, and industry representatives. Ultimately, the goal of IYP Canada is to contribute to the sustainable and profitable growth of the Canadian pulse industry. To learn more about the wide range of activities that support that goal and to learn how you can join the effort, visit www.iypcanada.ca.
Today, the United Nations (UN) is officially launching the International Year of Pulses 2016 (IYP) at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy.
“The International Year of Pulses will only come around once, and I am thrilled to report that we are all set to make the most of this marvellous opportunity for this amazing food that we grow,” said Allison Ammeter, Chair of the Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) and the Canadian IYP committee. “IYP will act as the catalyst for increasing both awareness and consumption of pulses in Canada, and I believe its legacy will last well beyond 2016.”
With over 800 million people suffering from acute or chronic undernourishment and a rising tide of health problems linked to poor diet, IYP aims to demonstrate the integral role these nutrient-dense foods have in global food security and nutrition. IYP will create a unique opportunity to share the good news about pulses with more consumers, and as people eat more pulses, Alberta farmers will sell more pulses.
“Pulses” are the edible dried seeds of legume crops that include dry beans, dry peas, chickpeas and lentils. This diverse group of staple foods has been cultivated by civilizations across the globe for over 10,000 years. They are high in protein, fibre, various vitamins and amino acids and are hearty crops. Pulses are part of the ‘food basket’ used by the World Food Programme in food assistance strategies.
“Pulses have great potential to help eradicate hunger, plus tackle many chronic health conditions, such as obesity and diabetes,” said Huseyin Arslan, President of the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC). “We congratulate the UN on its focus on pulses and their importance to global food security and nutrition.”
Ammeter added: “We want to encourage everyone to consume more pulses in 2016, and we hope the whole world will join us on January 6 in eating pulses. In Canada, we will be holding a Pulse Feast in Toronto on January 6, which will be part of a global live streaming event with other cities around the world.”
APG will be celebrating IYP with enhanced resources and exciting activities in addition to those planned on national and international levels. APG has created an attractive calendar with pockets that tells the story of pulses throughout the value chain, which will be available at APG’s trade show booth and other events while supplies last.
Pulses including dry peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas are a good food choice for a diabetic diet because they have a low glycemic index and are rich in fibre, said Alberta Pulse’s Food and Nutrition Coordinator.
“In research studies where pulses were eaten on their own, fasting blood glucose levels were significantly lowered,” said Registered Dietitian Debra McLennan, Alberta Pulse’s Food and Nutrition Coordinator. “Including pulses as part of a balanced meal helps to increase the dietary fibre content and lower the glycemic index of the overall meal, which can help promote better blood glucose control for people with diabetes. November is an ideal time to remind diabetics about the many benefits of eating pulses because it is Diabetes Month and November 14 is World Diabetes Day.”
Statistics from the Canadian Diabetes Association show that more than 20 million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes and more than 20 Canadians are diagnosed with diabetes every hour. Created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organization, World Diabetes Day is a global campaign dedicated to advocacy and increasing awareness of the realities of living and dealing with diabetes.
Nutrition plays an important role in the management of diabetes. Balancing when, what and how much you eat are key to blood glucose regulation, McLennan explained. Pulses like dry peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and faba beans are also nutrient dense, low fat and high in protein.
McLennan added that including pulses can be as simple as adding a handful of drained and rinsed canned black beans or chickpeas to a salad or soup to get that extra punch of nutrition. Another easy dish is the Alberta Pulse recipe for Greek Lentil Salad that’s loaded with flavour and packs 6 g of protein and 3 g of fibre per serving. Looking for a hearty soup for the winter months? Try the Vegetarian Chili Chowder! With 210 calories, 9 g protein and 8 g of fibre per serving, this recipe is easy to make and another tasty way to include pulses in your diet.
Both of the recipes mentioned above are gluten-free and vegetarian. The recipes are available for reprinting with credit. The Alberta Pulse website offers these and many other recipes that feature chickpeas, beans, lentils and field peas in appetizers, soups, salads, main courses and desserts. Watch for new recipes to be unveiled during International Year of Pulses 2016!
Pulses such as chickpeas, lentils, field peas and beans feature prominently in the healthy eating recommendations made by the Dietitians of Canada for Nutrition Month in March 2015, which focuses on eating well at work with the theme of Eating 9 to 5!
“Pulses are a nutritious and delicious source of protein and other nutrients that are easy to add into breakfast, lunch or snacks during the workday,” said Alberta Pulse Executive Director Leanne Fischbuch. “I am excited that the Dietitians of Canada chose to remind consumers about the versatility and excellent nutrition provided by pulses so that they can be eaten throughout the day, as well as part of a delicious, balanced evening meal.”
The Alberta Pulse recipe for Five-Minute Hummus is a simple dish that packs 8 g of protein and 4 g of fibre into a 75 ml serving. Hummus is a delicious spread for breads and wraps that pairs well with fillings like sliced apple or lettuce and tomato, or as a dip. Pre-packaged hummus is also available at grocery stores as a convenient alternative to making your own. Fischbuch recommends checking for brands with lower sodium and fat content. The Alberta Pulse hummus recipe can also be made using black beans or lentils instead of chickpeas. The Green Split Pea Salad with Rice and Cranberries is also a colourful and delicious addition to a lunchbox or anytime. It has 6 g of protein and other nutrients to keep a body fuelled through the afternoon.
“Pulses fit in perfectly with the Nutrition Month 2015 focus on Eating 9-5! by providing a quick, healthy, protein-packed solution to help us get through our work day,” said Registered Dietitian Debra McLennan. “Pulses are the perfect solution for adding variety to a salad, soup or sandwich for a delicious lunch or to power through the midday slump or commuter cravings that happen during our work day.”
View the Dietitians of Canada fact sheet for Nutrition Month 2015.
The Alberta Pulse website offers many recipes that feature pulses, which can also be a healthy part of vegetarian, gluten-free and diabetic diets.
