Canary seed market promising
Varieties of high-protein, gluten-free canary seeds are safe for human consumption and there are opportunities for farmers to grow and market what used to be just for the birds.
Canary seeds have traditionally been used in bird seed for caged and wild birds. Since 2016 however, new varieties of de-hulled canary seeds have been approved for human use by government regulatory agencies. The glabrous, or de-hulled seeds are high in protein and gluten-free, and can be used whole on breads or in health food bars, or ground into flour for cakes and cookies.
Kevin Hursh, executive director of the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan, said the market has been slow to develop and there is not yet a de-hulled product readily available to the public.
Hursh said there is a lot of interest in new and healthy food options and a new, yellow variety of the de-hulled seed has been developed that is more palatable and esthetically-pleasing.
“It has a number of favourable attributes so we’re hoping that it finds a place in the human food market,” Hursh told paNOW.