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In the Field – a new Ag jobs website and word of caution on fraudulent spices

Apr 13, 2017 | 4:17 PM

LETHBRIDGE –   Country 95’s agricultural features for the week of April 10th to the 14th offered information on a new agriculture job website to being cautious when buying spices.
 
Food-Fraud-Spices:

One of the world’s foremost experts on food fraud is warning about the possibility that garlic powder on store shelves — including those in Canada — may contain inferior ingredients.

Christopher Elliott of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast says garlic sales around the world this year are on pace with sales last year, despite a cold spell that wiped out vast tracts of garlic crops in China.

Elliott and other researchers are investigating garlic supply chains to determine whether garlic powder has been diluted with other products, such as talcum or chalk.

Last year, Elliott published a study that showed about a quarter of oregano sold in the U-K and Ireland contained other products, including olive and myrtle leaves. 
 
The best way to confirm that herbs are authentic, is to grow your own – and most varieties grow very well in Southern Alberta.
 
Canadian Free Trade Agreement:

 
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture has given the ‘thumbs up’ to the announcement that Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments have concluded negotiations on a new Canadian Free Trade Agreement.

While changes may take time to implement, the agreement’s conclusion represents a commitment to reducing barriers to interprovincial trade. Right now, it is easier for food processors and retailers to import food from another country than from another province.
Federation spokesman Ron Bonnett says there’s a clear commitment shown in the agreement to harmonize regulations and standards wherever possible.

He looks forward to getting more details about the newly announced Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table, which will coordinate processes for resolving trade barriers when they are identified by provinces and territories.
 
Jobs-Website:

A farmer from southeast Saskatchewan has launched a web platform to make the task of matching employees to jobs in agriculture a little easier.

Kristjan Hebert from Fairlight, Saskatchewan, is the founder of WorkHorse.

Hebert says it’s a question of matching farm jobs with workers with qualifying skill sets.

He says it will be up to the employer to do background checks.