Red Fife Returns to Saskatchewan

REGINA - May 9/05 - SNS -- Red Fife wheat is re-entering Saskatchewan this year, with limited quantities of the milling wheat being grown organically in the province.

The variety was almost extinct in 1988, but some seeds were saved and a few seeds were obtained by the Heritage Wheat Foundation in Alberta which, under the direction of Sharon Rempel, reproduced them in an effort to obtain commercial quantities of planting seed.

Jack Klassen, who operates the Victoire, Saskatchewan, area Carlton Trail Guest Ranch explains, "These were reproduced and reproduced until Marc Loiselle, a Saskatchewan organic producer, accessed them and planted them successfully.

"The harvest of 2004 yielded 65 metric tons (MT). There was an interest in this legendary old variety's baking properties. Wildfire Bakery in Victoria heard about Marc's accomplishment and convinced him to sell them 40 MT of his wheat that it stored in a specially installed downtown grain bin."

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