At Boreal Heartland, each spring we offer GACP training, the gold standard for foraged products, to prospective harvesters across various communities. Harvesters work on their own schedule, and we pay fair prices by the pound. From June to August, about 75 individuals, including families with children, bring in plants—some by truckload, others in boxes or bags. Harvesting serves as a livelihood, a teen’s first paycheck, a family activity, or extra money for treats like a trampoline for grandkids. Around 90% of our harvesters are Indigenous, many working on family traplines or traditional territories. We collaborate with northern communities including Ile a la Crosse, Beauval, La Ronge, and others, and also hire seasonal staff to assist with plant processing.
