HEMP IDEAS SPROUTING

The seeds that could put 100 Mile on the map as an industrial hemp
hub are on order and may be blooming soon.

Mayor Donna Barnett met with the Hemp Steering Committee April 10,
and said that although she doesn't have an exact date, she knows the
seeds will be planted in the not-so-distant future.

During the meeting the group dicussed various ways grains and fibre
from the plant will be utilized, and put some finishing touches on
the funding applications.

"This year we will be producing a lot more grain than fibre," she
said. "There's an opportunity because the markets are so strong for
the health products from the grain."

Products springing from the seeds are foods, oils, and personal
hygene items.

However, it's not all body creams and butters in the group's future.

"There is a lot of work to do in researching marketing and product
development in the next year," she said.

The group will be partnering with the Canim Lake Indian Band and the
University of Northen B.C. (UNBC) to bring the project to fruition,
she said.

"We have a lady that works as a researcher at UNBC, and she will be
doing a lot of the research work with UNBC students once the data is
gathered," she explained.

Once the seeds are grown, the group will analyze the growth and yield
of the plant in addition to the cost.