New Ontario grown pasta now available at L&M

January 9, 2010
Pauline Kerr, Minto Express
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From the field to your plate is only a few kilometres, where a new brand of pasta is concerned. A special pasta, developed by C&M Seeds, is now available at the L&M in Harriston and Palmerston. Here, Bob Harron, Harriston store manager, Dale Kropf, L&M owner, Pam McNichol, Palmerston store manager, and John McLaughlin of C&M Seeds gather to launch the sale of the new pasta at the Harriston store.

MINTO — There was a time when buying pasta meant purchasing a product grown thousands of kilometres away. Now there’s one — the only one in the world — with the Foodland Ontario logo on it, available at the Harriston and Palmerston L&M Markets.

It’s different from other pastas: a bit firmer, more flavourful and less sticky. That’s because this particular pasta has quite an exciting history. But the trip from the fields where the wheat for the pasta is grown, to the shelves of the market, isn’t far in terms of distance.

C&M Seeds has been testing durum wheat since 1988. John McLaughlin of C&M Seeds said the only wheat that used to be grown in Ontario was winter wheat used in cake and pastry flour. The climate in this part of Ontario is more humid than the western wheat fields where hard wheat varieties are grown. However, the durum line proved to be successful in this climate.

McLaughlin explains that because only one variety is being used, it gives unique characteristics to the final product, and the consumer benefits. There’s a unique taste to the product, and a huge appeal because of the flavour, texture and performance during cooking.

Now, C&M is delighted to provide the opportunity for consumers to enjoy pasta made from locally grown Hallmark durum wheat.

The C&M Seeds Hallmark durum program fits in well with L&M’s “buy local” focus. The new pasta is one of several new items that L&M has been able to buy and source locally, says L&M owner Dale Kropf.

“If you can’t support local people, what can you do?” he said.

Harriston L&M manager Bob Harron adds, “We do what we can for local producers and consumers.”

McLaughlin finds it easy to put himself into the role of consumer. For him, it’s a matter of quality and taste, and most of all, trust. “When I shop, I’m particular about what I purchase... I want to know it’s local, and I want to know it’s good for me and my family.”

Trust is the key factor — just as you trust the tomatoes you see growing in the field, as opposed to ones grown in Mexico and transported thousands of miles, you can trust that Ontario Foodland logo. Hallmark is the only pasta that has it.

The Hallmark pasta qualifies on all fronts: made with the whole grain, it’s very high in fibre and nutrients. And it’s delicious.

It was 12 years in the making, but consumers won’t have to deprive themselves and their families of the opportunity to enjoy this local product any longer.

C&M Seeds was formed in 1978 through a partnership of the Cameron and McLaughlin families, and now remains privately owned by the McLaughlin family. In the early 1980s, C&M became involved in testing hard red winter wheat lines, the first major effort of its kind in the province. C&M Seeds has a close alliance with Palmerston Grain, also wholely owned by the McLaughlin family.