Canadian Organic Products Regulations took effect on July 1 across Canada. Celebrating this milestone was Manitoba Harvest, a pioneering organic hemp foods company with a certified organic processing facility in Winnipeg.

Organic certification is the public’s guarantee that products meet robust standards, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is charged with enforcing the regulations.

Even in today’s challenging financial climate, sales of organic products, including organic hemp foods, continue to grow. “More people than ever are concerned about the health of their loved ones, the health of the planet, and the health of small farms where much of the organic farming growth is taking place,” says Mike Fata, president and co-founder of Manitoba Harvest. “They are aware that ‘organic’ is a healthier lifestyle for everyone and is worth their commitment and investment.In particular, parents of young children are trying to start their kids off right and give them the best chance to be healthy and thrive, and organic agriculture offers that opportunity to minimize exposure to chemicals,” added Mr. Fata, whose company is an active member of the Organic Trade Association.

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods & Oils is one of the fastest growing private companies in Canada. Its line of organic hemp foods will be emblazoned with the new Canada Organic Seal that was released July 1. Products that are 95% organic or more can use the new seal. Products that contain 70-95% organic ingredients can only identify organic content and the percentage in the ingredients panel.

Further, Canada and the U.S. have signed the world’s first organic equivalency agreement, accepting each other’s standards and enforcement systems as equal. There are only minor differences, and farmers and food companies won’t have to certify twice to sell in both markets.

“The most significant ‘organic’ challenge we face is the stabilization of supply and demand for organic hemp seed,” said Mr. Fata. “We think that the new Canadian Organic Products Regulations will help solidify the marketplace, and with the government support, it will help elevate the awareness and profile of organic foods in the eyes of consumers, retailers, farmers and other businesses.

“Our company helped to get hemp farming going again in Canada in 1998, and we have seen that it has been a challenge for the agricultural infrastructure to stabilize and establish a steady balance between supply and demand,” Mr. Fata continued. “We try to neutralize this factor by working very closely with our farmers—so close that many of the farmers that supply us are shareholders in our company, and that bond helps us address supply challenges, and helps them too.”

Since 1998, dedication to sustainable agriculture has been a key part of Manitoba Harvest’s success and the company is thrilled that demand for organic hemp seed is taking off. “Hemp farming is sustainable agriculture at its best,” said Mr. Fata. Hemp is naturally pest-resistant so pesticides are not used, and because hemp plants grow rapidly and close together, they crowd out weeds and don’t need herbicides. Hemp is also a soil-building plant that is excellent for crop rotation. Its strong roots anchor the soil to prevent erosion and cultivation generates virtually no waste and its byproducts are commercially useful.

Hemp is hot, and part of the allure for consumers is the eco-friendly aspect of sustainable hemp agriculture. According to the data from marketplace data leader SPINs, hemp grocery sales grew in the sampled stores by 42% in 2008, and the Hemp Industries Association estimates the total 2008 retail value of North American hemp food, vitamin and body care product sales to be between $100 million and $120 million.