About Us
Prairie Quinoa is a family-owned and operated business based in the city of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Our goal is to produce a quality Canadian-grown quinoa, while utilizing local resources, farmland and farmers. Our team includes:
Percy Phillips
– Founder & COO of Prairie Quinoa
Percy Phillips
Educated as an Agricultural Engineer (UofS 1980) and an extensive work experience in product development and managing Engineering Teams, he is the driving force behind the “quinoa project”. He locates seed sources, arranges the variety trials, coordinates activities with Manitoba Agriculture, correspondence with CFIA and making Prairie Quinoa “work”.
James Kuhl
– Co-Owner of River Valley Specialty Farm (Percy’s son-in-law)
James Kuhl
With a diploma in Agriculture, James has worked for MNP (the accounting firm) and has co-managed the family farm for the last decade. In 2016, he moved into a farm ownership position with River Valley Specialty Farms with his sister Kristen Gray. RVSF grows and markets asparagus, edible & soy beans, hemp and quinoa. He has provided invaluable direction and advice as Prairie Quinoa moved from variety trials and demonstration plots to fields of quinoa. His diverse agronomic experience is applied to cultivating quinoa here in Manitoba.
Kristen Gray
– Co-owner & CAO of River Valley Specialty Farm
Kristen Gray
Kristen has a degree in psychology and criminology and is chief administrative officer of River Valley Specialty Farm. She directs the financial and marketing side of things, bringing her own particular skills and perspective to the table. Kristen is the driving force behind the drive for direct marketing and to grow crops under certified organic conditions and cultivation.