New potatoes and green parsley

Researchers release 15 new potato varieties

Genomic tools are increasingly used to identify favourable traits 
and speed the breeding process

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reds, a wedge with an edge, and a super storer are among this year’s new potato selections from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Red-skinned varieties made up half of the total selections that Ag Canada potato breeders released earlier this month during their annual release open house. This includes a multi-purpose variety that shows promise for […] Read more



A rail car from SGCC’s fleet. (Dave Bedard photo)

Warm Saskatchewan weather spells early load limits

A long spell of spring-like weather in Saskatchewan’s southwest has softened roads to the point where winter weights are about to be removed. Increased winter weights will end in southwestern Saskatchewan, including several major roads and 70 rural municipalities, starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday (Feb. 24), the provincial highways department announced Wednesday. Affected roads will […] Read more

Irradiated ground beef, such as these burger patties, is expected to have a lower potential presence of harmful pathogens such as E. coli. (Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Health Canada clears ground beef irradiation

Fresh and frozen ground beef treated with irradiation can now be sold in Canada, the federal health department announced Wednesday. Health Canada has published regulations in the Canada Gazette which add fresh and frozen ground beef to the short list of irradiated foods, such as potatoes, onions, spices and flour, that are permitted for sale, […] Read more


(Popeyes via Businesswire.com)

Tim Hortons owner confirms US$1.8B deal for Popeyes

Reuters — Restaurant Brands International, owner of the Burger King and Tim Hortons fast-food chains, said on Tuesday it would acquire Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for US$1.8 billion in cash. The deal is a bet by Oakville, Ont.-based Restaurant Brands that it can use its international reach to introduce Popeyes’ Louisiana-style fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits […] Read more



(CNW Group/A+W Food Services of Canada Inc.)

A+W books sales growth despite Prairie ‘challenges’

Canadian burger and root beer chain A+W has chalked up another year of same-store sales growth despite “economic challenges” in the Alberta and Saskatchewan markets. Posting its year-end results on Tuesday, A+W’s Vancouver-based income fund reported same-store sales growth of 3.4 per cent in 2016 over 2015, down from a 7.6 per cent sales growth […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Tim Hortons to enter Mexican market

Reuters — Restaurant Brands International said it would launch its coffee and doughnut chain, Tim Hortons, in Mexico as a part of its expansion plans. The company said it would form a master franchise joint venture with a group of investors, whom they did not name, to launch the brand. The joint venture company will […] Read more