Do you love cooking and are you constantly seeking out new gastronomic discoveries? If so, this is the article for you! Oliméga, a company located in Saint-Édouard, made a culinary discovery with the potential to revolutionize the Quebec agriculture industry. Find out about it here!
Camelina, or false flax, is a small yellow flower with petals that form a cross, described in botanical circles as a cruciferous plant. Originally from the Nordic countries, its grains are harvested, cold-pressed, and transformed into oil. But none of this is new! It is said that camelina grew 3000 years ago in some northern European countries. However, it was difficult to cultivate and prepare due to its small size. This likely explains why it became lost in history, unlike flax, with its multiple uses, which has stood the test of time.
In 2015, Oliméga launched its camelina oil, making the company a pioneer in the Quebec market. With the goal of finding the perfect combination for a tasty, nutrient-rich, and GMO-free product, Oliméga took eight years to conduct research in collaboration with the Ministère de l’Agriculture (MAPAQ), Université Laval, and EDPA Farm, the Durivage family’s property in Saint-Édouard.
From the outset, Oliméga had two important goals with regard to camelina production: to introduce something new to Quebec agriculture and to bring a new, nutritious food to Quebec tables, through their line of Signé Caméline products. For those who haven’t heard of these products—you don’t know what you’re missing! The unique taste of camelina is often compared to the flavours of hazelnut and sesame. Here are some of its health benefits:
Another interesting fact: as of now, no insect pests have been identified for this plant. The use of pesticides in the production of camelina is therefore an unnecessary practice! As a result, this leads to unique biodiversity in Quebec’s agricultural fields.
Oliméga is a family business for which eco-friendly practices are of the utmost importance. Its new building is the ultimate proof of this. With an entire wall of solar panels and a tube heated by solar energy, this recent construction allows the company to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 22 tons per year! These two installations also help provide 40% of the energy needed for the building. Not bad! During our interview, Chantal Van Winden, Chief Executive Officer of Oliméga, stated that this construction project was without a doubt one of the biggest points of pride for the company, despite the many awards it has won in the food industry.
It is fair to say that the future of this company is promising. Camelina is a unique product that deserves to be discovered by Quebecers and that does not compare to anything else already on the market.
“Dare to try our products!” is what the family behind Oliméga would say if they could only tell you one thing about their Signé Caméline line. Nothing is better than a product made in Quebec by Quebecers!
To purchase Oliméga products, go to https://www.olimega.com/en/ or one of the following points of sale:
Enjoy!
