Saskatchewan-based pulse snack company receives over $6 million from major investors

Three Farmers, a company that produces various roasted bean and pulse snacks, just received a sizeable investment totalling $6.2 million between multiple investors including $3 million from Arlene Dickinson’s company, District Ventures Capital.

The founded-on-the-Prairies company, led by three farmers and two sisters, embodies one vision that has been built from the ground up, quite literally, the group says.

Like any good Canadian business, it was dreamt up in a small town rink after perhaps one too many whiskeys, as described by Three Farmers.

Despite the known and unknown obstacles that are inevitable with starting any company, Dan Vandenhurk, Colin Rosengren, Ron Emde, who are second and third-generation farmers, along with sisters Natasha and Elysia Vandenhurk, forged ahead with their desire to provide wholesome food through sustainable farming practices.

“Fast forward a decade or so later and we couldn’t be more proud of how far we have come. We have learned so much about the land we tend, the food we grow and the people we feed,” says the company.

The roasted bean snacks have been perfected by Three Farmers through a proprietary dry-roasting technique, which allows them to offer lower fat options than competing products. They use locally-sourced ingredients and create snacks from lentils, faba beans, chickpeas, and peas in a variety of flavours ranging from dill pickle, barbeque, turmeric and spice, plus many others.

To date, the company has done very well for themselves with their products being picked up and sold through many large retail chains including Loblaws, Sobeys, Whole Foods, and Walmart. The recent investment will drive expansion of the company’s portfolio.

“Canada continues to demonstrate its enormous agricultural and health expertise and resources. Investments in vertically integrated companies like Three Farmers are what will create generational opportunity for our country,” says Arlene Dickinson, general partner of District Ventures Capital. “As leading producers for lentil and green pea production in the world, Canada is missing out by not participating in the commercialization of these resources into products – a gap Three Farmers is able to help fill.”

Outside of the $3 million from District Ventures, $3.2 million in funding is from existing investors including Export Development Canada, Golden Opportunities Fund Inc., and PIC Investment Group.

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