Agricultural Processor Named Exporter of the Year.

Newfield Seeds of Nipawin was named STEP Exporter of the Year at the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership's annual conference Growing Locally, Succeeding Globally in Regina.

The award, sponsored by NorthStar Trade Finance, was handed out a gala dinner, which featured a keynote address from Maclean's columnist Alan Fotheringham. Other companies nominated for this prestigious honour included Nu-Fab Building Products and Itracks -- Interactive Tracking Systems both of Saskatoon.

"Saskatchewan is Canada's most trade successful province and companies like Newfield, Nu-Fab and Itracks make that happen each and every day," said STEP President and CEO John Treleaven. "What we're seeing in the Saskatchewan business community is successful market development in all parts of the world. These people are just good at what they do."

Upon accepting the award, Newfield Seeds Production Manager Gord Pearse had only praise for the other nominated companies.

"It is an honour to even be nominated with companies like Nu-Fab and Itracks. Your success stands as a beacon for the rest of Saskatchewan's business community," said Pearse to the capacity crowd of almost 300. "I would be lying if I said Newfield Seeds always had years like the one past. It has taken a lot of hard work to get where we are today."

Created 53 years ago, Newfield Seeds quickly became a leader in exporting Saskatchewan agricultural products. In 1991, the company was purchased by Svalof Weibull AB of Sweden, which allowed Newfield Seeds to venture into even more world markets.

"China has become a very significant trade partner for us. Over the last two years our markets have grown in China," said Managing Director at Newfield John Doege, who was unable to attend the ceremony because of flight delays following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. alfalfa opened an office in Beijing so we're lining up sales of forage seed, forage grasses, alfalfa and so on."

The firm currently employs 90 people and ships seed products across the world. Relying on international markets for approximately two-thirds of its annual sales, Newfield Seeds is determined to make trade work from within the province.

"The U.S. will remain our most important trading partner, but with the recent tragic events that may be strained," said Pearse. "As you all know sometimes trade is glamorous, sometimes it's not so glamorous and sometimes it's downright dangerous. I salute and award anyone who partakes in trade."

Two of those salutes deservedly go to the other finalists. Nu-Fab Building Products constructs pre-fabricated buildings and homes that have become popular with buyers in the U.S. and Japan. The company is now exploring opportunities in South America and Europe.

Itracks, a software developer, has developed online software packages to support electronic market research and surveys. The firm recently opened an office in Connecticut and lists many of the world's largest market research firms as clients.

"You are all winners," said Treleaven, as the night came to a close. "Every member of STEP has showed the determination, the desire and the dedication to growing locally and succeeding globally."