Growing Alberta winners

Alberta’s innovative and environmental leaders.

You’ll find them in all corners of the province – they’re Growing Alberta’s award winners. Green Team leaders are finding and implementing new ways to sustain and enhance the quality of natural resources like air, water and soil. Innovators are unearthing new technologies and processes to bump the bar on food quality, food safety and environmental stewardship. They’re a team of leaders whose examples are being mirrored in all sectors of the industry. From soil conservation and wildlife preservation habitats to essential oil extraction technologies that are being templated in markets around the world, Alberta winners are making a difference – everywhere.

Green Team Winners

• Alberta Dehydrators Association, Legal
• Roy Audet, Milk River
• Bassano Grower, Calgary
• Don & Sharon Benedict, Hanna
• Brian & Debra Berg, Wardlow
• Dylan & Colleen Biggs, Coronation
• Byblos Bakery Ltd.
• Cows & Fish Program
• Ken & Sharon Eshpeter, Daysland
• Roberta Filkohazy, Hussar
• Lorne Fitch, Lethbridge
• Fletcher’s Fine Foods Ltd., Red Deer
• Bonnie & Francis Gardner, Nanton
• Dewayne Good, Cypress Hills
• Henry Graw, Manning
• Doug Hall, Airdrie
• Cam & Maxine Hancock, Marwayne
• John Hermans, Edmonton
• Ike & Rod Lanier, Neveridle Farms, Lethbridge
• Bill & Carol Lee
• George Markle, Claresholm
• Barry Mason, Delia
• Dr. Anne Naeth, University of Alberta
• Old Dutch Foods Ltd.
• Parmalat Canada
• Brent Paterson, Lethbridge
• Heather Sinton, Alberta Environment, Edmonton
• Norm Storch, Hanna
• Ronald Svanes, Carmangay
• Ben Thorlakson, Airdrie
• Keith Wilson, Rosedale
• XL Foods Ltd.

Innovation Winners

• CV Technologies Inc., Edmonton
• Dow Agrosciences, Calgary
• Bob Ertmer, Agricore
• Harimex Inc., Calgary & Strathmore
• Highwood Crossing Farms, Aldersyde
• Dr. Julia Keenliside, AAFRD, Edmonton
• Norac Technologies, Edmonton
• RMS Research Management Systems Inc., Calgary
• Matt Schoondeerwoerd, Fletcher’s Fine Foods, Red Deer
• Ed Schultz, Alberta Pork Producers Development Corporation, Edmonton
• Jim Shaner, EcoAg Initiatives
• Jim Smith, Chair National Quality Assurance Committee, Canadian Pork Council
• Bob Telford, Fletcher's Fine Foods, Red Deer
• The Olds College Centre for Innovation
• Transfeeder Inc., Olds

What makes a winner?

You know. They’re people who look at challenges with inquisitive minds – Albertans who are carving new standards of excellence through innovation and environmental stewardship initiatives like these.

• Using zero till production and planting duck friendly crops, producers in southern Alberta are creating natural habitats for burrowing owls and ducks.
• It’s a weird combination, but it works. The Cows and Fish Program is improving the health of Alberta’s riparian land by sharing information with producers and communities about ways to restore or maintain natural systems.
• A new computer visioning system is revolutionizing the way meat is being graded in processing plants all over the world. Calgary’s Research Management Systems has developed a hand-held device that reads carcasses easily and delivers a grading that is 100% accurate – every time.
• An innovative dairy with operations in Calgary and Lethbridge has used new technology to reduce its yearly water consumption by 68 million gallons.
• A progressive Calgary bakery owner realized that a new processing line could turn cull pitas into baked pita chips. The result? New products, new jobs, and a significant reduction in the landfill.
• This creative company is proof that good things come in small packages. Using made-in-Alberta patented oil extraction technology, this Edmonton firm is shipping essential oils for use in functional foods and nutraceuticals to markets around the world.
• Alberta’s pork industry took the lead on development of the Canadian Quality Assurance Program. Based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) it’s an industry driven initiative to address food safety on the farm.