Legumex Walker's Pacific Coast Canola to Begin Processing Nexera™ Canola in Washington State

– Growers in Pacific Northwest to Benefit from High-Yield and Market Premiums from Nexera^TM Canola –

WINNIPEG, April 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Legumex Walker Inc. (TSX: LWP) (the "Company") today announced that its Pacific Coast Canola ("PCC") subsidiary has entered into an agreement with Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. ("Dow AgroSciences") under which it has been granted a license to process Nexera^TM canola and produce and sell Omega-9 Quality Canola Oil at its facility in Warden, Washington.  Nexera^TM canola is used in the production of heart-healthy Omega-9 Quality Canola Oil, a next generation canola oil that is in increasingly high demand by food processors for its health and stability attributes.

"The ability to produce Omega-9 Quality Oil from Nexera^TM canola expands our canola offerings and satisfies a growing demand for this product from our food processing customers," said Joel Horn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Legumex Walker Inc., which owns 84% of Pacific Coast Canola.  "PCC's strategy is to expand its margin potential beyond the benefit of sourcing feedstock locally by focusing on new canola products such as Omega-9 Oils, which command premiums in the marketplace."

"Partnering with Dow AgroSciences allows us to bring the benefits of Nexera^TM canola to growers in the Pacific Northwest," said Matt Upmeyer, Chief Operations Officer, Pacific Coast Canola.  "Growing commodity canola has great agronomic benefits and growing Nexera^TM canola takes that to another level, providing greater potential profitability through higher yields and pricing premiums.  Dow AgroSciences provides exceptional support to Nexera^TM growers and we look forward to working with them to maximize the economics for growers in the Pacific Northwest region."

Under the terms of the agreement, Dow AgroSciences, which developed and owns the rights to Nexera^TM canola seed, has granted PCC a license to purchase, handle, crush and process Nexera^TM canola, as well as process and sell Omega-9 Quality Oil produced from Nexera^TM canola.  Dow AgroSciences will provide Nexera^TM seed to canola growers under contract with PCC to deliver canola feedstock to PCC's Warden, Washington facility for processing.  In addition, Dow AgroSciences will work jointly with PCC to develop programs for the marketing of Nexera^TM canola seed to growers, as well as to develop programs that will market Omega-9 Quality Canola Oil to potential buyers. 

"We are proud to partner with Pacific Coast Canola to expand the availability of our heart-healthy Omega-9 Canola Oil to food processors, while providing canola growers in the Pacific Northwest with a new, high-yielding, premium-commanding crop alternative," said David Dzisiak, Commercial Grains & Oils, Dow AgroSciences.  "Consumer demand for Omega-9 Oil is at an all-time high and Omega-9 Oil is the new standard in today's food industry."

Are You a Grower Interested in Nexera^TM Canola?

Pacific Coast Canola has production contracts available for growers interested in Nexera^TM canola.  Growers should contact:  Steve Starr at [email protected] or 509-349-8462. 

About Nexera^TM Canola

Nexera^TM canola is the feedstock used to produce Omega-9 Quality Canola Oil, which was developed by Dow AgroSciences to address the needs of the food industry and the health needs of North American consumers. Omega-9 Quality Canola Oil has a unique combination of high oleic and low linolenic fatty acids that has superior health, performance and sensory attributes.  Omega-9 Oils feature zero trans-fats and a long shelf life, and their nutritional advantages have already resulted in the removal of more than 1.5 billion lbs. of trans and saturated fats from the North American diet.

About Dow AgroSciences Canada

Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. brings innovation to life through people, chemistry and biotechnology in the areas of seed and crop production, and pest management. Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with commercial and research operations across Canada. Key research facilities include corn and soybean breeding in St. Mary's and Blenheim, Ontario, cereals breeding in Nairn, Ontario, and a global canola research center in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

About Legumex Walker Inc.

Legumex Walker is a growth-oriented processor and merchandiser of special crops (sunflower seed, flax and canary seed), pulses (lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas) and canola products. The Company is one of the largest processors of special crops and pulses in Canada.  Legumex Walker has 15 processing facilities strategically located in key growing regions in the Canadian Prairie Provinces, the American Midwest, and China, global sales, logistics, and distribution platform and access to multimodal transportation capabilities. In addition, the Company has an 84 percent interest in Pacific Coast Canola, LLC, which operates the first and only commercial-scale canola oilseed processing facility west of the Rocky Mountains.

Cautionary Note on Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward‐looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws which may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the increasing demand for Nexera^TM canola and Omega-9 Quality Oil and expansion in margin potential for PCC. Such forward‐looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risk that demand for Nexera^TM canola and Omega-9 Oil will not reach anticipated demand levels in PCC's markets, risk that margins for Omega-9 Quality Oil from Nexera^TM canola will not exceed margins realized by PCC on the sale of other canola oil, problems related to the operation of the PCC Plant, weather related risks, the demand for and availability of rail, port and other transportation services, the actual results of harvests, fluctuations in canola oil prices, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes, as well as those factors referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended December 31, 2013 and the Company's 2013 Annual Information Form, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and which should be reviewed in conjunction with this document. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.  Although the Company believes the assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Legumex Walker Inc.

INVESTOR& MEDIA RELATIONS: Marin Landis, Investor Relations - Legumex Walker, [email protected], [phone]; Lawrence Chamberlain, TMX Equicom, [email protected], [phone] ext. 257