foodsources
sources
He adds that while canola oil has similar uses,
most canola is not organic.
Growing naturally and locally is important
to Franz and Erna, who chose camelina after
some careful research into the terroir of their
new home. Other oils with high smoke points
and healthy fats like coconut and avocado oils
can’t be made in Manitoba. Hemp and fl ax can
cope with the climate but are more diffi cult
to farm—by comparison, the camelina seed
takes about half the time to grow compared
to that of fl ax. In the end, camelina oil was
the answer for Freefi eld Organics owners to
offer Manitobans a product that was not only
organic but also supported the local economy.
“A lot of people in this industry focus on
quantity, but we wanted to make sure we
were all about quality,” says Franz. “Our oil is
coldpressed and as pure as possible. We don’t
put anything in and we take nothing out.”
While the couple is currently focusing on
the oil’s benefi ts in the kitchen, they have plans
to expand their brand. For example, Franz and
Erna are in the midst of developing a skincare
line using the oilseed. An official website
will soon be available for customers to fi nd
information and prices on the products.
“We are a small family business, so we
don’t make a huge amount of profi t off our
products,” Franz says. But like many small
farmers, they do it for the love of what they
produce. “People who are health-conscious
really like it. We stand by what we do.”
Freefield Organics’ camelina oil, free of
gluten, soy, nuts and genetically-modified
ingredients, is available at approximately 85
stores across Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
and B.C. It can be found in stores like
Generation Green, De Luca’s and Sobeys.
For more information on Freefi eld Organics
products, visit freefi eld.ca
Freefi eld Organics owners Erna and Franz Kracher
ciao! / aug/sep / two thousand eighteen
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