Keystone flavour profile

A stroll through any farmers market is enough to remind anyone Manitoba is home to loads of local food products. The organization that represents those manufacturers and processors — Food & Beverage Manitoba — wants to get people excited about it.

The organization (rebranded a few years ago, formerly Manitoba Food Processors Association) is reviving its annual award program and including a people’s choice selection: the Manitoba Made Flavour Award.

Executive director Michael Mikulak said it is seeking to encourage people to take notice of the amazing brands and products that come out of the keystone province. “We are so typically Manitoban and we often don’t realize how great some of companies and products actually are.”

In the people’s choice award category, Manitobans can vote for whatever food or beverage product they want, just so long as the product is produced or made in the province. That means anything from your favorite craft pal ale to ice cream to tortilla chips to the kombucha you can ever only find at that one farmers market.

“We just want people in the general public to celebrate and acknowledge these products,” Mikulak said. “It’s a chance to focus on what makes the province unique and products that we can be proud of.”

Manitoba has a huge food industry, which includes dominant players such as Maple Leaf Foods and HyLife Ltd., as well as oilseed and grain companies.

But there’s a growing consumer packaged goods marketplace, supported by the likes of the Food Fare and Vita Health grocery chains, which showcase local products.

“We have some really good programs that do support local makers,” said Mikulak. “For instance, we’re working with Food Fare right now on a way to highlight some of them.”

Among other things, it helps get some of those brands ready for Sobeys’ local supplier engagement program, which can be a stepping stone to national distribution.

“Once they get to that point (on the shelves of Sobeys stores in Manitoba), it is a bit of a jump,” Mikulak said.

“By that point, they have to get their food safety protocols and other pieces in order. For many, it’s the first step in getting into the interprovincial trade market.”

Voting for the Manitoba Made Flavour Award is open until Sept. 9 online at foodbeveragemb.ca/2024award.

The winner will be announced Sept. 20 at the Food & Beverage Manitoba Harvest Gala, along with those of five other honours.

The categories and finalists of those awards are:

Community Engagement: businesses that have effectively engaged with their local communities and have made significant contributions towards community betterment. Finalists: Cranked Energy, Food Fare, HyLife and Assiniboine Credit Union;

Sustainable: companies demonstrating significant contributions towards sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Finalists: Wolseley Kombucha, Prairie Cricket Farms, Manitoba Starch Products and Juno Food Lab;

Business Development: businesses showing remarkable growth, expansion and development in their operations, financials or market reach. Finalists: Utoffea, La Cocina, Hudson Bagels and Tall Grass Bakery;

Branding: businesses with exceptional strategies that have resulted in significant brand recognition or performance. Finalists: Smak Dab, Sheep Dog Brew Co., Old Church Bakery and Tasty Heat;

Associate of the Year: association members who consistently provide exceptional value to Food & Beverage Manitoba members. Finalists: Dinkum Consulting, Sani Marc, De Luca’s and Farm Credit Canada.

[email protected]