Heroes of the Harvest – Meet the People who put good food on our tables (excerpt) by Dee-Hobsbawn Smith
City Palate, September/October 2001

Swathing the grain, laying in stores, stocking up against the comin winter…on the prairies, harvest is the season of abundance. It is also a challenging time. “Make hay while the sun shines” is such a truism that we forget how true it is. Nearly all the farmers and growers listed below mentioned weather – mostly in uncomplimentary terms, and often with contrasting complaints that reflect the many mictor climates in southern Alberta – as a leading challenge. Weather is one of the many reasons no one has ever said farming was easy. These are some of our “harvest heros,” people who carry on despite the odds because they love the land and they love the good food they produce.

Highwood Crossing Farm
403-652-1910
www.highwoodcrossing.com

Tony and his family reside on Highwood Crossing Farm south of Calgary, where they produce and bottle cold-pressed organic canold and flaxseed oils. The oil press is closely monitored to eliminate light, heath ad oxidization during pressing. Dark glass bottles are filled, labeled and promptly refrigerated before their short trip to souther Alberta retail shelves. In an in ingenious marketing move, Marshall also sells the extruded solids, a high-demand, high protein feed for organically-raised poultry and livestock, and a sought-after fertilizer among organic city gardeners. The Marshalls also produce and package organic granola, flaxseed muffin and pancake mixes, stone-ground flours and whole grains and cereals.

CHALLENGES: “On an organic farm, weeds comprise the biggest challenge. Weather runs a close second.”