Why Canola?
Canola is now the second most widely used oil in the foodservice and food manufacturing industries. In the evolution of the food industry requiring healthier ingredients and menu items, canola has become the solution to deliver health without compromising food taste or oil functionality.
A canola plant begins as a small seed that grows to reach heights of two to six feet tall. Soon, the plant begins to produce brilliantly colored yellow flowers and eventually seedpods filled with oil seeds. Each canola seed is at least 40 percent oil.
After the crop is harvested, canola is processed to extract the oil. The oil is then refined according to the product being produced. Different treatments are used to process salad oils, shortenings and margarines.
Canola oil is acclaimed for its nutritional qualities. It contains no trans fat and the lowest level of saturated fat of any oil on the market. It is also high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, which may lower LDL cholesterol levels. Canola is commonly used in cooking oil and sprays, salad dressings, margarines and shortenings, as well as baking, sandwich spreads, coffee creamers and deep frying.
Reliable Supply
The Omega-9 Solutions Team supports foodservice and manufacturing entities to develop customized oil and ingredient solutions that are sourced from a reliable canola oil supply. Because Dow AgroSciences developed the NEXERA™ canola and sunflower seeds that are used to produce Omega-9 Oils Ingredient Solutions, they have the unique position to understand and engage the entire value chain, from seed to shelf.
Canola, over the last ten years, has realized lower price volatility compared to other commodities, including sunflower, soy, corn and palm. In addition, it has become the second most widely used oil for food use. To respond to this growing demand, Omega-9 Oils have doubled production capacity to more than a billion pounds, and plan to more than double again to 2.5 billion pounds by 2012.
Dow AgroSciences also has the advantage of partnering with four of the leading oilseed processors, representing 80% of the North American canola processing capacity. This means that the Omega-9 Solutions Team can help restaurants and food manufacturers optimize their sourcing and supply.
