About Us

Plant-based Ingredients for a Healthier World

At Norleaf Food, we’re dedicated to producing clean, sustainable and locally sourced functional food ingredients. Located in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba — the heart of the Canadian Prairies — we’re the only North American manufacturer dedicated to the wet-processing of yellow peas and hulls into high-quality functional food ingredients.

For the past 40 years, we’ve specialized in the manufacture of food-grade protein isolates, starches and fibers derived from yellow peas grown right here in Canada. We’re proud to harness the potential of this Canadian pulse to provide our partners with an array of sustainable and nutritious functional food ingredients.

Why Peas?

Today’s emphasis on eating “clean” has increased the demand for plant-based, nutrient-rich alternatives to everyday foods made with locally sourced ingredients. As Canada’s largest pulse crop, yellow peas are well-positioned to meet that need. Thanks to their high levels of protein, starch, fiber, vitamins and minerals, they’ve become a staple in the nutraceutical and functional food markets.

Yellow peas are naturally gluten-free and possess a low allergenicity threshold, making them a nutritious and simple alternative food ingredient that does not require allergen labelling. They’re also GMO-free and Canada’s largest pulse crop, with national yields making up 23% of the world production. With such high availability of raw materials right here in Canada, our products are clean, economical and locally sourced.

Sustainable Ingredients You Can Trust

Consumer interest in sustainably sourced, plant-based foods have grown — and we’re here to help our partners meet that demand. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, yellow peas require less fertilizer use than other crops, reducing the risk of fertilizers impacting our water supply through runoff and leaching. They also have one of the lowest carbon footprints of any protein source, making yellow peas an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional animal and other plant-based proteins.

Headquartered in Portage la Prairie, our processing plant relies predominantly on Manitoba’s renewable hydropower, which generates over 97% of the electricity in the province. Our proprietary wet-processing method requires no use of solvents, irradiation or chemical modification such as hydrolyzation. And we’re committed to the exclusive processing of yellow peas to ensure that no other raw material crops, wheat derivatives, dairy ingredients or genetically modified material enters our product line.