For the over 20 years Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association has been serving its members and their industry - providing networking, education and marketing opportunities while making sure their voices have been heard.   SHSA has opened its doors to the country and world... supporting the industry as a whole.

SHSA began with a spice grower/broker, a wildcrafter and a culinary herb grower/processor.  It evolved from a focus on purely production to encompassing the whole value chain including research and development.  SHSA now supports not only those crops and products they started with but many of the new crops overall, products and processes as they evolve. It is now an integrated industry association with many partners across the world and throughout the value chain.  SHSA is known for its ability to "play with others"  and to partner successfully for the benefit of all.  A prime example of this is SHSA's role as the secretariat for the Canadian Herb, Spice and Natural Health Product Coalition.


Our evolution has brought many changes to the industry making the world aware that yes we do grow, collect, process and sell spices, botanicals and much more.

• SHSA has taken a lead role in adding value by developing voluntary tools for quality, traceability and safety.

• SHSA has been a leader from day one in health of the plants they grow, collect and sell, in helping define and showcase the impact of consuming these healthy products and has supported the health of the communities that develop them.

• SHSA has supported research and development

• SHSA has been a voice to ensure a fair workable regulatory environment

• SHSA is testing a gentlemen agreement spice levy to support industry lead research and development.

It seems like every week, another product is being recalled because of food-borne illnesses, like Salmonella and E-coil. If those stories have you thinking each meal could be your last, it's time to spice up your cooking. That's because herbs and spices like thyme and cinnamon do more than add flavour. The oils from these plants pack a powerful, anti microbial punch. Here's a list of the most potent germ-fighters.

Coriander
Coriander seeds have a health-supporting reputation that is high on the list of the healing spices. In parts of Europe, coriander has traditionally been referred to as an "anti-diabetic" plant. In parts of India, it has traditionally been used for its anti-inflammatory properties. In a recent study coriander has been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol.  Other nutritional facts for coriander are summarized in this document.

The cholesterol lowering property of coriander seeds (Coriandrum sativum): mechanism of action.
Dhanapakiam P
Joseph JM
Ramaswamy VK
Moorthi M
Kumar AS
more

Caraway
Antimicrobial activity for caraway essential oil has been demonstrated in vitro against Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Candida, and Dermatomyces. Caraway oil, an aromatic herb, is used in many pharmaceutical preparations as a flavoring agent. It is claimed to be an effective aid for abdominal distention, bronchitis, colic, constipation, flatulence, hiatal hernia, indigestion, menstrual cramps, mild spastic conditions of the GI tract, and stomach ulcers; a gargle for laryngitis; and a bath additive.

Oregano.
It contains a compound called carvacrol ("CARVE-uh-kruhl") which is so effective at killing E.coli that the U.S. Agricultural Research Service is looking at ways to use it in food packaging.

Basil.
Researchers at Kansas State University found that the oils in basil are effective at killing listeria, staph, and even the bugs that cause colds and flu.

Garlic.
Goes after bacteria, viruses and even fungal infections. Experts say the same chemical that gives garlic its flavour also kills germs. For more punch, use fresh garlic instead of powder.

Thyme.
Thyme was once used in surgical dressings... it was also the first ingredient in antiseptic mouthwashes. And it kills parasites, like hookworms and roundworms

Cinnamon.
In tests ar Weber State University, cinnamon oil was more effective that the antibiotic Ampicillin at inhibiting the growth of staph infections.

Fenugreek
The fenugreek seeds possess essential oils and other constituents that inhibit the growth of bacteria, parasites and fungi. Similar activity has also been observed for fenugreek leaf extracts.

If you're wondering whether spicing up your food will really help keep you healthy, consider this: Germs don't mutate when they're exposed to plant oils... Which means they're effective even against antibiotic - resistant bacteria...