With the loss of the Crow benefit last summer, many of us would have predicted a very intense interest in the alternatives to wheat. Well, wheat is up, and the interest in oilseed and special crops is down. Even so, there are a few who are intensely interested in some of the crops we are gathered here to discuss. I'll give you an overview of what is currently happening in Manitoba in regards to aromatic and medicinal plants. Spice Crops Caraway.
Caraway seed is used in baking, cheeses, and other foods.
Most years there will be a few thousand acres of production on the Prairies, between 1,000 and 2,000 in Manitoba. Caraway is a biennial species, meaning it doesn't set seed until its second year. It is often sown with a nurse crop to provide a harvest of something in the establishment year. By late June in the second season, the crop is generally well into flowering, and by early August it is typically ready for harvest. Like caraway, there have typically been 1,000 and 2,000 acres of coriander in Manitoba.