Boreal Heartland Herbal Products continues to expand operations in northern Saskatchewan. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Indigenous Business

Boreal Heartland expanding reach in Canada

Jul 8, 2022 | 5:07 PM

Harvesting has begun in northern Saskatchewan on a large range of natural products.

“We’ve been taking things for about a month,” said Keewatin Community Development Association CEO Randy Johns, who manages Air Ronge-based Boreal Heartland Herbal Products. “We started off with spruce tips and Labrador tea and the response was really good. People just brought lots of both things and we’ve taken all that we need for Labrador and spruce tips.”

Johns explained there was a good supply of morel mushrooms harvested in recent weeks as they were able to thrive in spots that were burnt in last year’s wildfires. He also began accepting fireweed on Thursday as that plant is expected to start blooming in about a week.

Chanterelles could begin popping up as early as July 15 and Johns added there will be a lot of interest from buyers this summer.

“We’ve increased our sales. We have national distribution for our tea line and we are introducing a line of seasonings as well,” he said. “We’re looking at sales growth right across Canada. We are harvesting more to accommodate that sales growth. That’s a good thing. We’re trying to make sure we’ve got enough to supply the demand.”

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In 2020, Boreal Heartland signed a deal to co-brand the company’s tea with Federated Co-operatives Ltd. The tea blend contains ingredients like fermented fireweed, wild mint and Labrador leaves.

A list of prices for harvesters as of July 7. (Facebook/Boreal Heartland)

The seasonings are currently undergoing test marketing and Johns expects that product to launch this fall. Some ingredients in the seasonings are alder pepper, spruce tips, juniper berries, yarrow and chanterelle powder.

“We get into the speciality food stores and the health end of things and people really love our products,” Johns said. “They love we are an Indigenous company, and they can support Indigenous companies through buying our products.”

The number of harvest collection locations has also increased in recent years. This year’s product can be dropped off at the head office in Air Ronge, as well as with David Ballantyne in Deschambault Lake and Mark Monsebroten in Cumberland House. John has plans to open a location collection point in Beauval in the near future.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno