Kansas-grown crop growing in popularity thanks to health benefits
2:50 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Winter canola is slowly gaining ground as an alternative crop to winter wheat. In 2007, about 10,000 acres were planted in southern Kansas.
K-State Research and Extension canola specialist Mike Stamm says the demand for canola has never been higher.
"Well, the demand for canola oil is at an all-time high because canola is the healthiest vegetable oil available for consumers. It's healthier than olive oil. Most people think that olive oil is the healthiest vegetable oil, but in fact it is canola oil, because its saturated fat content is the lowest of all vegetable oils. So there's that aspect, and then canola oil also makes a viable feedstock for biodiesel."
Stamm says canola is also gaining favor among food manufacturers.
"In 2006, the FDA authorized a qualified health claim for manufacturers of food products that contain canola oil; any manufacturer of products that contain canola oil can put this claim on their packaging. The qualified health claim states that consumption of canola oil will help lower the risks of coronary heart disease."
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