EDMONTON, Alta., July 27, 2026

Agritourism Alberta (formerly Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association) has launched Taste the Alberta Berry Harvest, a provincial promotion encouraging Albertans to visit participating U-pick farms, buy locally grown berries and berry products, and spend time on Alberta farms during the summer harvest.

Nineteen farms are taking part so far, from the Grande Prairie region in the north to the Lethbridge region in the south. More Agritourism Alberta members are still signing up.

"Berry season is one of the best times of year to visit an Alberta farm," said Richard Staples, Vice-President of Agritourism Alberta and a farmer at The Jungle Farm near Innisfail. "This promotion helps people find local farms, meet the growers behind their food, and put money back into Alberta farms and rural communities."

What each farm offers varies, and it changes through the season. Participating farms may have:

● U-pick and pre-picked berries
● Jam, juice, syrup, wine, pies and other berry products
● Farm stores and direct farm sales
● Alberta meat, vegetables, honey, flowers, animal fibre and other local products
● Tours, tastings, animals, picnic areas and family activities

Berry availability changes quickly with weather, ripening conditions and visitor demand. Albertans are asked to check with each farm before travelling to confirm hours, picking conditions and U-pick availability.

Participating farms will post harvest updates on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok throughout the season, and Agritourism Alberta will share selected updates on its provincial channels.

"A U-pick visit gives families a chance to spend time on a farm, see how food is grown, and take something home the same day they picked it," said Staples.

The full farm list, map and campaign details are at www.albertafarmfresh.com/taste-the-alberta-berry-harvest

PackworldUSA, a leading manufacturer of precision heat sealing equipment, highlights how its PW3400 and PW3300 Series help contract packagers run high-mix, short-run programs while maintaining repeatable, validated seals across a wide range of materials and formats.

For lines handling multiple SKUs and film types, both series include touch screen with on-screen diagnostics, easy calibration, and recipe storage so operators quickly load proven settings by product, film, or customer to minimize training time, errors, and changeover downtime. Interchangeable jaw bars enable fast consumable replacement or sealing configuration changes. Standard seal bars of 16 or 24 inches (custom 12-30 inches) and seal widths of 2-12 mm let contract manufacturers run small pouches through large bags on one platform while matching seal geometry to customer specifications.

To fit dynamic contract packaging environments, the PW3400 and PW3300 can be used as tabletop units or mounted on an adjustable height and tilt stand with lockable casters, making it easy to reposition sealers as projects and layouts change. Close access to the sealing area supports minimal headspace to reduce material use and improve presentation, while side-to-side film pass-through and quick removable seal bars support flexible station design and fast configuration changes.

Both series seal the widest variety of films including mono- and multi-layer materials: polyethylene, polypropylene, Tyvek, laminated foils, non-wovens, and fluoropolymer films such as FEP, PFA, and PTFE. Optional dual jaw heating applies heat from both sides of the film to shorten cycle times on thick or high-temperature materials. Optional water-cooling helps maintain short cycle times at elevated temperatures, supporting higher throughput on time-sensitive projects. Energy-efficient on-demand heating activates elements only during cycle, while quick startup (under one minute) and rapid cooldown minimize delays when maintenance or configuration changes are needed.

Contract packagers working in regulated or audited environments benefit from data logging with lot codes and batch counting for traceability, configurable user security to protect validated settings, and cleanroom-ready stainless steel and anodized aluminum construction with a fanless, pressure-activated touch screen for gloved operation in controlled spaces. PackworldUSA’s TOSS Technology delivers high seal-to-seal and machine-to-machine repeatability, helping maintain validation and reduce rework.

Each model targets distinct contract packaging needs. The PW3400 offers horizontal film loading that integrates easily into existing layouts and supports a wide range of pouch and bag styles, with optional vacuum and purge capability. The PW3300 provides vertical film loading ideal for flowable products, helping settle contents during sealing for cleaner, more consistent results, while pinned jaw bars give quick access for consumable changes and seal bar adjustments during changeovers.​

This Flexicon® flexible screw conveyor with trough hopper can receive material from multiple outlets of feeders, grinders, blenders, bulk bag dischargers, or any process equipment with a wide-style discharge.

Measuring 108 in. (275 cm) in length, the hopper’s low (36 in/92cm) profile enables it to be positioned beneath the discharge point of most vessels. The hopper’s bottom features a U-shaped channel that exposes the flexible screw for the entire length of the vessel, allowing material entering the hopper at any point to charge the conveyor. The hopper is equipped with a stainless-steel grate for worker safety and to prevent oversized particles from entering the conveyor.

The hopper walls are equipped with ports designed for the optional installation of level sensors. These sensors enable real-time monitoring of material levels within the hopper and transmit signals to address critical issues such as overflow or conveyor starvation, ensuring efficient and uninterrupted operation.

The rugged inner screw is the only moving part contacting material and is offered in numerous designs to handle both free- and non-free-flowing materials, including products that pack, cake, or smear, with no separation of blends. As it rotates, the flexible screw self-centers within the tube, providing ample clearance between the screw and tube wall to eliminate or minimize degradation. Material exits the conveyor below the drive point, precluding contact with bearings or seals. Quick-disconnect clamps near the drive point and a cleanout cap at the opposite end of the conveyor allow for easy removal and cleanout of the flexible screw during material changeovers.

	This Flexicon® flexible screw conveyor with trough hopper can receive material from multiple outlets of feeders, grinders, blenders, bulk bag dischargers, or any process equipment with a wide-style discharge. TFC24-044_FSC-Trough-Hopper_20241125
	The hopper’s bottom features a U-shaped channel that exposes the flexible screw for the entire length of the vessel, allowing material entering the hopper at any point to charge the conveyor. TFC2024-044_Trough-interior_20241112
	Quick-disconnect clamps near the drive point and a removable cleanout cap at the opposite end of the conveyor (shown) allow for easy removal and cleanout of the flexible screw during material changeovers. TFC24-044_FSC-Trough-Hopper-screwremoval

ITS washer stainless-steel designed for demanding food production environments delivers consistent cleaning performance while supporting sanitation requirements, reducing manual labor, and improving throughput.

ITS can tailor custom-engineered washing systems to specific products, production volumes/environments, and facility layouts, providing manufacturers with reliable solutions that enhance productivity and food safety.

ITS’ detail-oriented methodology ensures that by investing significant time and expertise upfront, we minimize potential downtime and facilitate a seamless process. This approach allows our customers to achieve immediate productivity as soon as the equipment is operational onsite.

Enhance your thermal processing capabilities today by contacting ITS to learn how our team can develop a custom solution tailored specifically to your requirements.

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