One of the joint-venture owners of Winnipeg pea and canola protein processor Merit Functional Foods says it’s in talks to buy full control of the cash-strapped company. Two days after Merit entered a court-ordered receivership, Vancouver-based Burcon NutraScience announced Friday it “intends to submit a formal proposal to acquire the business.” Burcon said Merit’s receivership […] Read more

Merit Foods stakeholder looking to buy company
Burcon 'actively engaged' with company's receiver

Plant protein processor Merit Foods in receivership
Company owes $95 million to EDC, FCC
The company behind a new Prairie processing plant extracting plant-based proteins from peas and canola has landed in receivership, in the high eight figures’ debt to its secured lenders. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on Wednesday announced it’s the receiver for both Merit Functional Foods Corp. and the numbered company that owns Merit’s processing plant and property in […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Peas seeing good Prairie movement
MarketsFarm — Peas are seeing good movement in Western Canada ahead of spring, although prices have held steady over the past month. “The yellow pea market has some life again,” said Allan Johnston of Johnston’s Grain at Wellwyn, Sask. He added there were also a few companies chasing after some coverage for green peas with […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: New Year’s pressure drags on North Dakota peas
Pea prices relatively higher north of border
MarketsFarm — Pea prices in North Dakota have been feeling pressure from the New Year, according to Landon Lechler of Beach Co-operative at Beach, N.D., about 360 km south of Weyburn, Sask. Besides the turning of the calendar New Year, Lechler said the upcoming Chinese New Year has slowed export demand for yellow and green […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Pea prices hold steady in weak market
Values expected to soften in new year
MarketsFarm — Prices for green and yellow peas in Western Canada have remained quite steady over the last week, largely due to the lack of demand, according to Darwin Hamilton of Kalshea Commodities in Winnipeg. “North American peas are more expensive than the peas coming out of Eastern Europe. A lot of that product is […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Yellow peas under pressure from large volumes
MarketsFarm — Large volumes of yellow peas being delivered into commercial hands have put some pressure on values, although prices remain reasonably solid. Green and maple pea bids are stronger, but movement is more limited in those markets. End users were active buyers of yellow peas in recent months, but many are now filled up […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: AAFC revises dry pea projections
MarketsFarm — Among the changes Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) made in its November supply and demand report, issued Friday, the most notable were among the dry peas. The revisions that stood out the most were 2022-23 dry pea exports being cut by 200,000 tonnes at 2.5 million, while domestic usage was bumped up 50,000 […] Read more

Green peas regain premium over yellows
MarketsFarm – Solid demand and tighter supplies have seen green pea bids regain a premium over yellow peas in Western Canada, although the market for both varieties remains solid overall. Green peas historically trade at premium to yellow peas due to higher quality specs and concerns over bleaching, but increased domestic demand for yellow peas […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba’s dry beans, peas show strong yields
MarketsFarm — With the return of typical temperatures and healthy amounts of precipitation throughout the growing season, Manitoba had successful pea and dry bean crops during the 2022-23 marketing year, according to the province’s pulse specialist. Dennis Lange of Manitoba Agriculture said both crops showed high yields from their respective harvests. The Manitoba pea harvest […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Canada’s pea, lentil exports to rise while prices fall
MarketsFarm — Canadian pea and lentil exports should see considerable increases during the 2022-23 marketing year after drought cut into available supplies in 2021-22, according to the latest supply/demand production from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). However, total movement may still come in well below five-year averages. Canadian pea exports are forecast at 2.7 million […] Read more