Competitiveness, Training and Trade
Flax
About the Industry | High Quality | Flax Products | Exports | Info | Industry Links
The Manitoba Advantage
The climatic conditions unique to Manitoba provide ideal growing conditions for flax.
The long sunny prairie days characteristic of the Manitoba growing season and the traditionally dry harvest period make Manitoba one of the most productive flax growing locations in the world.
As a result, Manitoba reaps some of the largest flax yields in the world and has the reputation of providing consistent high quality.
About the Industry
Manitoba has been growing flax since the late 1800s but it was not until World War II that it emerged as an alternative cash crop to wheat and other cereals.
Today, Canada is the top flax producer in the world, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the world's flax production.
Manitoba plays a large part in Canada's flax production, producing approximately 30 to 40 percent of Canada's flax, which translates into an average harvest of 500 to 750 thousand acres.
The Canadian flax industry has a strong visual grading system designed to ensure uniform quality.
The flaxseed is graded based on damage (broken seeds) and admixture at several different locations including both the country elevators and terminal elevators.
This allows for lower quality to be removed which provides for more uniform export product. Contracts and options for flax can be traded on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange.
Quality
The primary reason for Manitoba's high quality flaxseed is the active involvement of producers and researchers in maintaining and increasing quality standards.
New cultivars cannot be registered unless they meet minimum standards of oil and protein content, and iodine value.
The high quality flaxseed grown in Manitoba is characterised by a strong combination of oil content and iodine value, and has a low moisture level.
When compared to other major flax-producing areas in the world, the high oil content and iodine value characteristic of Manitoba flax are strongly influenced by the relatively lower growing temperatures and the longer photoperiod (hours of sunlight) distinctive to Manitoba.
Additionally, Manitoba flaxseed is harvested in the fall. The traditional dryness of this period means the seed usually requires no drying and is therefore harvested at a moisture level adequate for export.
Products
Flaxseed is processed into a variety of diverse products from breads to linseed oil for paints and concrete preservation to linoleum.
Some processing has occurred from year to year at the CanAmera plants in Altona and Harrowby.
Pizzey's Milling and Baking Co. in Angusville produces ground flax products, such as breads, muffins and pancake mixes.
Flax straw fibre is processed in Manitoba by Ecusta Fibres Ltd and Schweitzer Mauduit Canada Inc at various locations across Manitoba.
The process involves removing the flax fibre from the straw and using that fibre for industrial purposes as well as fine papers for cigarettes and currency.
Exports
Manitoba currently exports flaxseed to countries such as Belgium, Japan, The Netherlands and the United States.
Processed flax exports to these countries include linseed oil, oil-cake, flax fibre, tow and waste.
Manitoba producers have a long tradition of growing flax and are recognised for the production of a top quality product and a commitment to meet customer demand domestically and internationally.
Information and Contacts:
- Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
- Trade Assistance Services
- Also view the Value-Added Food Processing Sector
Industry Links:
E-mail links:
- Alfred C. Toepfer (Canada) Ltd.
- Cargill Ltd.
- Cloutier Agra Seeds Inc.
- McElroy Seed Farm
- Midlake Specialty Food Products
- Northern Sales Co. Ltd
