Newsroom
2005
CWB launches new cookbook on World Pasta Day
October 25, 2005
Winnipeg - The CWB today celebrates World Pasta Day and its own 70th anniversary with the launch of a new cookbook called "Pasta from the Prairies".
The 70 pasta recipes in the book were submitted by western Canadian farmers or taste-tested in their kitchens. The book is being shared with farmers and the public through a special CWB Web site at www.worldpastaday.ca. Printed cookbooks will be used for promotional purposes, designed to enhance opportunities for Canada's 15,000 to 20,000 durum producers.
"We farmers here on the Prairies grow more durum wheat than anywhere else in the world and I think people should be aware of that," said Ken Ritter, chair of the CWB's farmer-controlled board of directors. "Pasta is delicious, it's really good for you and it's easy to make. Every time you eat it, you're supporting a Prairie producer."
CWB president and CEO AdrianMeasner is in Barcelona, Spain today promoting Canadian Western Amber Durum to the World Pasta Congress, which created World Pasta Day 10 years ago.
"Durum from Western Canada has an international reputation for quality," he said. "Products branded as being made with Canadian grain supplied by the CWB are often seen as premium products by global customers. They know we supply safe, high-quality food."
The special pasta Web site features 20 recipes from the new cookbook and an opportunity to sign up to receive a new recipe every two weeks. For those with high-speed access, a PDF of the entire cookbook is available. The site also contains the CWB's "Grain IQ" quiz and lots of interesting facts about pasta and durum wheat.
Prairie farmers seed over five million acres of durum wheat each year, making it Canada's fourth-largest grain crop behind spring wheat, canola and barley. The CWB is, by far, the largest durum exporter in the world. It markets the quality durum grown here to more than 40 countries.
International durum customers are regular visitors to downtown Winnipeg, where a pilot pasta plant is operated by the Canadian International Grains Institute (supported b the CWB and Government of Canada). Here, customers gain first-hand knowledge of the quality of pasta products made from our durum wheat.
Pasta is a delicious and healthy food choice, which is not only inexpensive, but versatile enough to go from kitchen table to gourmet palate. As a ready source of protein and complex carbohydrates, it has become on of Western society's staple foods.
Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells to over 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen Fitzhenry
CWB media relations manager
Tel: (204) 983-3101
Cell: (204) 479-2451