Last week the premier and Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen toured the Roquette pea processing facility near Portage la Prairie.

Pedersen gave an update on the plant.

"They expect to be up and running limited production by the summer. Due to COVID they've had some delays. They're looking at getting into full production by this fall. That's why they've got acres contracted. They have contract acres that they have bought peas just to make sure that they've got supplies before this year's crop comes in."

The pair also toured the Simplot potato processing plant.

Pedersen commented on the recent expansion at the facility.

"Basically, they doubled the plant and so they've greatly increased the number of acres of potatoes that they'll need. They'll continue to increase the range of products that they're putting out. This is good news for Manitoba as the potato acreage increases and the agriculture industry will really profit from this."