By Alice McFarlane

Quinoa provides an alternative for producers

Feb 25, 2021 | 3:53 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – A Saskatoon, Sask. based company is looking for quinoa growers across the prairies.

Northern Quinoa Production Corporation (NorQuin) is offering fixed price contracts for red, black, and white quinoa.

Farm service representative Lane Christianson said quinoa is an ancient grain with a high protein and fibre content.

“It’s a healthy grain, a pseudo cereal. It’s very closely related to lamb’s-quarters. It has a starchy profile and is very healthy,” he said. “It has all nine essential amino acids that humans need. In todays’ healthy consumer environment its a good option for people.”

Saskatchewan is one of the biggest producers of quinoa in North America and Christianson sees good demand for the grain.

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“We’re seeing an increase with the pandemic and people being at home. We’re finding they’re looking for healthy alternatives, something gluten free, so it’s really starting to open up around the world,” he said.

Christianson described it as a field to fork product. NorQuin contracts with producers, cleans, processes, bags, and sells to end users including Costco. NorQuin worked with 30 growers last year.

There are challenges that come from growing this niche crop. Christianson said the biggest concern is weed control.

“As I said it is related to lamb’s-quarters which is a weed so we’re definitely searching for options growing it in fields that are clean as broadleaf control is limited.”

Gross returns are pegged at roughly $800 per acre. Christianson said it grows well in the right rotation.

“It’s a very good crop and can give you a break from canola and pulse diseases, it can also give you a break from some pests,” Christianson said. “It has good marketability. Inputs are close to canola and you don’t need any special equipment during seeding or harvest.”

In addition to seed, cleaning, and production contracts the company provides agronomic advice as well.

Christianson said it is a good idea to start small.

“Start with 80 to 160 acres for most farmers and as they continue to grow and learn about the crop and know its needs, we usually start to increase at the second or third year,” he said.

Christianson said producers should stick to a two-year rotation away from canola mainly because its hard-to-get canola out of quinoa in the cleaning process. He said they recommend growing quinoa after a pulse crop.

“We’re excited to bring this new crop to the prairies. It’s a crop that can put some money in the farmers pocket,” Christianson said.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF