WINNIPEG, March 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Before deciding to buy Canadian flaxseed, many customers prefer to review quality data like the Canadian Grain Commission's annual harvest quality report. The 2011 harvest quality report for western Canadian flaxseed is now available at www.grainscanada.gc.ca.
"Based on the samples we analyzed, the 2011 flaxseed crop was of a high quality. Over 98% of the samples were graded as No. 1," explains Véronique Barthet, Program Manager of Oilseeds for the Canadian Grain Commission's Grain Research Laboratory.
Researchers looked at these quality parameters:
- Oil content
- Protein content
- Free fatty acid composition
- Iodine value
Harvest quality reports are used to market Canadian flaxseed to domestic and export customers. Quality data describe to export customers how Canadian flaxseed will perform in various end-use products. For example, linoleum flooring is made using flaxseed oil. To understand how flaxseed from a particular crop year will perform in manufacturing, a customer would look at factors like oil content and free fatty acid composition as these values affect the manufacturing process.
The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency responsible for establishing and maintaining Canada's grain quality standards. Its programs result in shipments of grain that consistently meet contract specifications for quality, safety and quantity. The Canadian Grain Commission regulates the grain industry to protect producers' rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions.
Véronique Barthet
Program Manager, Oilseeds
Canadian Grain Commission
Telephone: 204-984-5174
Share this article