Pulse industry working on developing foreign markets, conference told

The Canadian pulse and specialty crops processing industry is on the 10-yard line in terms of marketing and transporting product, according to an industry spokesman.
"The 10-yard line is not a good place to be but we're on the offence," Greg Cherewyk of Pulse Canada told a processors' conference in Moose Jaw Wednesday.
"We're in the first quarter and we're putting some points on the board toward our long-term goals."
Pulse Canada has made strides in developing markets and toward resolving issues such as unnecessary fumigation of shipments to India and Bangladesh and selenium in shipments to China, he said.
Progress includes a study to learn more about products so no one in future will surprise the industry with matters like the selenium scare raised by the Chinese, Cherewyk said.
Clinical studies are determining the health and nutritional benefits of pulse products to expand the small North American market, he said.
Markets have been developed in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, South and Central America and Agriculture Canada has assisted with funds.
But markets are of no benefit if you can't get reliable consistent delivery of product, he said.
The grain and oilseeds transportation model doesn't fit the pulse industry with crops of peas, lentils, chickpeas and beans and from two to six variations among each crop, he said.
To that end, an Agriculture Canada funded review is tackling transportation issues by building a detailed information data base on all aspects of transportation from processor to port that includes:
‰ booking and actual allocation and delivery of rail cars;
‰ access to equipment, turnaround times, service;
‰ condition of equipment.
"Information is everything in this industry."
A pilot project this year starts the process for completion by the fall 2009 shipping season, said Cherewyk.
Gathering the information is pivotal to controlling the ball, he said.
The power of railways comes from all their information that is never shared, he said.
"If we have the data base we have more control."
The practice of individual shippers complaining on an anecdotal basis to rail executives is no longer viable.
"Unless you have a case supported by facts, the executive's job is to get you out of the office as soon as he can," said Cherewyk.
Armed with facts and incident reports from the industry, shippers can make a better case to ensure system changes and their rights under transport legislation, he said.
Prominent Saskatchewan processor Murray Al-Katib of Fort Qu'Appelle urged processors to co-operate with the data base collection.
"It's like voting," said Al-Katib. "If you don't participate you have no right to complain."
Pulse Canada is looking at education programs to help shippers exercise their rights under new federal transport legislation, said Cherewyk.

Ron Walter can be reached at 691-1264.