December 02, 2005
DAUPHIN—The new North Parkland GO team is ready for the rapidly evolving demands of today’s rural and agricultural sector Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk said here today at the launch of the team at the Dauphin GO Centre.
Crop and livestock production remain the foundation that supports economic activity in the area, producing high-quality products for both domestic consumption and international markets, said Wowchuk.
“The challenges facing today’s agricultural producers and rural communities are vastly different from the past. The members of this GO team know how to meet today’s demands and tomorrow’s challenges by identifying opportunities for new and expanding agriculture-based businesses and taking advantage of growing national and international markets for specialty products like organic foods, value-added processed foods and manufactured goods,” said the minister.
The North Parkland GO team works out of the Dauphin and Roblin GO Centres and the Ste. Rose and Ethelbert GO Offices. The team's emphasis is on diversification and value-added processes, focusing on business development and financing, community economic development, best management practices, and leadership and youth programs. Local communities will play an important role by identifying their agricultural priorities and business needs. Programs and services of the GO team will be developed based on these consultations.
The Dauphin GO Centre also provides local agricultural lending and insurance services through the Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation.
The minister congratulated the area on the success of developing outstanding new value-added products through the Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers Co-Op that assists with processing hemp seed and fibre, and marketing value-added hemp products. She also noted the benefits and advances produced by the hemp plant breeding program.
Wowchuk said entrepreneurs here dare to be different, creating new value-added products and taking advantage of emerging business opportunities. Other successful small business ventures in the North Parkland GO team area include:
Sweet Alternative Desserts (Grandview) - creates sugarless desserts;
Wiebe’s Meat Processing (Gilbert Plains) – specializes in producing garlic sausage;
Oak Ridge Meats (McCreary) – provides multi-species meat processing with sales in northern Manitoba;
Native Bee Company of Manitoba Ltd. (Dauphin) – produces honey;
Delaurier Jams and Jellies (Ste. Rose) – produces jams and jellies from local fruit.
“Through the ingenuity and drive of entrepreneurs like those in the North Parkland area, many of our rural communities have found a new road to financial sustainability through creative business development,” said Wowchuk. “With the support of our agriculture and business specialists and all the members of the North Parkland GO team, we can work together to meet the challenges of world markets and bring international recognition and economic strength to our province.”
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