SHSA is an industry driven association directed by a board of volunteer directors that are themselves in the industry.
SUPPORTING INDUSTRY INTERESTS
The H.S.S.A supports building a viable herb, spice and specialty ag products industry that includes value added production and processing. They do this by linking and connecting the industry through communication, networking and education throughout the value chain.
We represent the common interests of persons and businesses involved across the spectrum of our common industries , from research and production to regulations, processing and manufacturing, practitioners or final product point of sale.
We participate in and/or initiate the below activities:
- INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS
Public promotion displays at such places as Agribition, Research update, Crop Development Week, Indian Head Research Farm, the Medicinal and AromaticPlant and other conferences.
- INDUSTRY MEETINGS AND FIELD DAYS
Members are invited to take advantage of our endless business networking opportunities by taking in our regular meetings and participating in our field trips.
- DEMONSTRATION PLOTS
and research development work at Indian Head Research Farm , Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification Centre, and other various sites.
INTRODUCTIONFor the over 20 years Herb Spice and Specialty Ag Association (formerly the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association) has been serving its members and their industry - providing networking, education and marketing opportunities while making sure their voices have been heard. HSSA has opened its doors to the country and world... supporting the industry as a whole.
A PROUD HISTORYHSSA began with a spice grower/broker, a wildcrafter and a culinary herb grower/processor. It evolved from a focus on purely production to encompassing the whole value chain including research and development. HSSA now supports not only those crops and products they started with but many of the new crops overall, products and processes as they evolve. It is now an integrated industry association with many partners across the world and throughout the value chain. HSSA is known for its ability to "play with others" and to partner successfully for the benefit of all. A prime example of this is HSSA's role as the secretariat for the Canadian Herb, Spice and Natural Health Product Coalition.
Our evolution has brought many changes to the industry making the world aware that yes we do grow, collect, process and sell spices, botanicals and much more.
- SHSA has taken a lead role in adding value by developing voluntary tools for quality, traceability and safety.
- SHSA has been a leader from day one in health of the plants they grow, collect and sell, in helping define and showcase the impact of consuming these healthy products and has supported the health of the communities that develop them.
- SHSA has supported research and development
- SHSA has been a voice to ensure a fair workable regulatory environment
- SHSA is testing a gentlemen agreement spice levy to support industry lead research and development.
Come join us both as a member and to celebrate our history and our future!
Explore this website for more information about us - become a member and reap the benefits that membership brings.
This is your industry and your association - please help us grow the new crops world for Canada.
WHAT WE COVER
HSSA covers herbs, spices, specialty agriculture, wildcrafted products and natural health products from the field to the shelf.
Their members grow, collect, research, process, develop and buy/sell/promote these products from a wholesale to retail level.
Examples of spices that are grown on a field scale are coriander, caraway, fenugreek, dill and anise.
Borage is an example of a natural health product grown and processed in Saskatchewan as is Seabuckthorn.
Examples of wild products collected and processed by members are wild rice, mushrooms, chaga, labrador tea and a variety of berries and forest products.
Examples of medicinal herbs grown are echinacea, red clover, dandelion etc.
The range of culinary herbs grown is vast including basil, rosemary, oregano, garlic, etc.
SHSA works with the Hemp industry as a sister association and encompasses Hemp under their GACP program.
The capacity to grown, process and develop products is vast and the skills well honed in Saskatchewan and in Canada - so buyers can be confident that contracts can be fulfilled with premium products.
ON FARM FOOD SAFETY
SHSA is one over 20 national industry groups involved in the Canadian On- Farm Food Safety Program (COFFS).
These industries are developing voluntary HACCP-based On-Farm Food Safety Programs and Good Agriculture Practices (GACPs). The goal of the COFFS program is to use HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) principles to enable a facility to provide protection from contamination of the food supply from the farm to the consumer.