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About Us
Prairie Berries has become recognized in the marketplace for their production
of frozen IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) saskatoon berries, fruit toppings,
pie fillings, purees, concentrates, and dried saskatoon berries.
Prairie Berries currently consists of a ten acre Saskatoon Berry orchard,
a Federally Registered primary processing plant and a Federally Registered
secondary processing plant.
- The orchard production capacity is currently 40,000 lbs.
- The primary processing plant is capable of grading, cleaning and freezing
120,000 lbs. Our plant CFIA registration number is 304.
- The secondary plant capacity is 100,000 units.
- Prairie Berries has a strategic alliance with Saskatoon Berry Partners
Inc which is a marketing company for 16 growers with a combined production
capacity of 490,000 lbs.
Prairie Berries grew from humble beginnings. Like many Saskatchewan farmers,
Sandy and Ken Purdy knew diversification was the key that would allow
them to keep working on the farm and living in rural Saskatchewan. They
decided a crop of Saskatoon Berries would be a good business venture.
The Purdys planted their first 300 saskatoon berry plants in 1993, but
not before they had exhaustively researched how to plant, fertilize, irrigate,
process, and market opportunities for the berries.
The success of the Saskatoon Berries operations was clearly evident.
Soon the Purdy’s operation became a commercial one, growing from
a sideline grower to a full-time grower, processor and marketing company.
The future of Prairie Berries has been set in motion.
Sandy Purdy, President of Prairie Berries Inc, is actively involved in
the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association (SFGA)and was a director on
the board for six years and sat as president for 3 years. During her tenure,
her accomplishments include the expansion in the number of planted acres
for Saskatoon Berry orchards, building a market awareness of the unique
Saskatoon Berry, implementing On-Farm-Food-Safety certification for growers,
and the introduction of Canada Grading Standards.
The business philosophy of Prairie Berries Inc. is that together we are
better and will achieve great things.
In May of 2002, Prairie Berries won two awards at the Canadian Fine Food
Show in Toronto. The first award was for Saskatoon Berry pie filling,
which won the “Best New Desert”. The second award was for
Saskatoon Berry fruit topping, which won the “Best New Preserve”.
Prairie Berries commitment to excellence and quality in producing a high
fruit content of an all natural no preservatives product was the key to
our award.
Again in May 2002, Prairie Berries won an award in the local community
for export activity. This was the MJBEX Award, which is given to the business
demonstrating exceptional performance in exporting Saskatchewan goods
and services nationally or internationally.
Prairie Berries
Box 21
Keeler, SK Canada S0H 2E0
Phone: (306)788-2018
Fax: (306) 788-4811
Email: prairieberries@sasktel.net
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