source: Farm and Food Report
Having raised bison in the Livelong area since 1978, Judy and Kevin Wilkinson have always had in the back of their minds to one day start making a pemmican product.
With the drought of recent years and the drop in price for buffalo meat, the need to move forward with this project came earlier than planned.
“We approached a meat product development specialist at the University of Saskatchewan and developed recipes for ground buffalo meat that can be made into a jerky-type paste and mixed with cranberries,”Judy/Kevin Wilkinson said. “Along the way, our value chain started to come together.”
The Wilkinsons took their recipe to Robert Lundquist of Diamond 7 Meats in Lloydminster, a reputed custom processor specializing in game meats. Lundquist seized the opportunity.
“This was right up our alley. We tweaked the recipe, which initially called for the use of blueberries. The main problem with blueberries was that it turned our stainless steel equipment black and it just wasn’t feasible for us to carry on that way. Cranberries, however, were just right.”
The Wilkinsons started to take their animals to Diamond 7 Meats, along with good quality cranberries they buy from Dawn Food Products in Saskatoon, and Lundquist’s team took care of the rest.
“We helped them develop the process. We’ve been with them since the beginning. There is a huge opportunity there for the livestock industry. We need more people like the Wilkinsons.”
Of course, there was also the matter of packaging this product. Judy Wilkinson and her husband soon had it figured out.
“We use CryoVac packages of 23, 45 and 90 grams to sell our Cranberry Craze product under the label Trail’s End Buffalo Stix at service stations and local hockey rinks, where they have proven popular. We also have 250 gram packs that we sell at trade shows and craft fairs, as well as right out of our ranch.”
True to form, Judy Wilkinson speaks eloquently of the work performed by another Saskatchewan-grown solution: Custom Labels out of Saskatoon.
“They have taken our son’s original design and come up with a peel-off label that conveniently wraps around the package and really enhances the product’s look and overall appeal for consumers. People tell us that our Buffalo Stix are more accessible than conventional jerky. The cranberries make it easier to chew. Even consumers who usually stay away from jerkies tell us they like the taste and texture. There is no feeling like the contact with our customers — the instant gratification you get from satisfied clients.”
The Buffalo Stix are about one eighth of an inch thick by an inch wide. It takes about 90 pounds of meat to make 45 pounds of jerky — much of the weight loss is due to moisture evaporated during processing. Ground bison is mixed with the cranberries and spices, then the mixture is smoked.
But the proud parents of the Buffalo Stix are at a bit of a crossroads right now, as the appeal of working with a distributor is being weighed. The Saskatchewan Made stores operated by the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association are making the Buffalo Stix available in Saskatoon. Plans for the chain to expand could mean a larger market for the Wilkinsons and the realization of a long time dream.
“I don’t think it is unrealistic to hope one day to be able to see our bison through life, from birth to the final product, and to have a say in everything about how these beautiful animals we raise are treated.”
May the Buffalo Stix Cranberry Craze prove as satisfying a venture for Judy and Kevin Wilkinson, as the chew itself is.
For more information, contact:
Judy Wilkinson
Trail’s End Buffalo Stix
(306) 845-3056
Having raised bison in the Livelong area since 1978, Judy and Kevin Wilkinson have always had in the back of their minds to one day start making a pemmican product.
With the drought of recent years and the drop in price for buffalo meat, the need to move forward with this project came earlier than planned.
“We approached a meat product development specialist at the University of Saskatchewan and developed recipes for ground buffalo meat that can be made into a jerky-type paste and mixed with cranberries,”Judy/Kevin Wilkinson said. “Along the way, our value chain started to come together.”
The Wilkinsons took their recipe to Robert Lundquist of Diamond 7 Meats in Lloydminster, a reputed custom processor specializing in game meats. Lundquist seized the opportunity.
“This was right up our alley. We tweaked the recipe, which initially called for the use of blueberries. The main problem with blueberries was that it turned our stainless steel equipment black and it just wasn’t feasible for us to carry on that way. Cranberries, however, were just right.”
The Wilkinsons started to take their animals to Diamond 7 Meats, along with good quality cranberries they buy from Dawn Food Products in Saskatoon, and Lundquist’s team took care of the rest.
“We helped them develop the process. We’ve been with them since the beginning. There is a huge opportunity there for the livestock industry. We need more people like the Wilkinsons.”
Of course, there was also the matter of packaging this product. Judy Wilkinson and her husband soon had it figured out.
“We use CryoVac packages of 23, 45 and 90 grams to sell our Cranberry Craze product under the label Trail’s End Buffalo Stix at service stations and local hockey rinks, where they have proven popular. We also have 250 gram packs that we sell at trade shows and craft fairs, as well as right out of our ranch.”
True to form, Judy Wilkinson speaks eloquently of the work performed by another Saskatchewan-grown solution: Custom Labels out of Saskatoon.
“They have taken our son’s original design and come up with a peel-off label that conveniently wraps around the package and really enhances the product’s look and overall appeal for consumers. People tell us that our Buffalo Stix are more accessible than conventional jerky. The cranberries make it easier to chew. Even consumers who usually stay away from jerkies tell us they like the taste and texture. There is no feeling like the contact with our customers — the instant gratification you get from satisfied clients.”
The Buffalo Stix are about one eighth of an inch thick by an inch wide. It takes about 90 pounds of meat to make 45 pounds of jerky — much of the weight loss is due to moisture evaporated during processing. Ground bison is mixed with the cranberries and spices, then the mixture is smoked.
But the proud parents of the Buffalo Stix are at a bit of a crossroads right now, as the appeal of working with a distributor is being weighed. The Saskatchewan Made stores operated by the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association are making the Buffalo Stix available in Saskatoon. Plans for the chain to expand could mean a larger market for the Wilkinsons and the realization of a long time dream.
“I don’t think it is unrealistic to hope one day to be able to see our bison through life, from birth to the final product, and to have a say in everything about how these beautiful animals we raise are treated.”
May the Buffalo Stix Cranberry Craze prove as satisfying a venture for Judy and Kevin Wilkinson, as the chew itself is.
For more information, contact:
Judy Wilkinson
Trail’s End Buffalo Stix
(306) 845-3056
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