The burger will be available while supplies last
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
A&W is offering customers a new burger that’s made without beef or plant-based proteins.
The restaurant chain is introducing a Bison Burger to restaurants in Saskatchewan for a limited time, the company announced on Tuesday.
“Saskatchewan is a province proud of the role its agriculture plays in Canada and on the world stage,” Susan Senecal, A&W Canada's president and CEO, said in a statement. "We are proud to support the hard work and innovation of Canadian ranchers, and excited to bring our new Bison Burger to Saskatchewan. This is a great tasting recipe made with the unique flavour of quality 100 per cent Canadian bison."
Saskatchewan is Canada’s second-largest bison-producing province. Its bison population in 2016 was 40,418 head located across 303 farms, the Canadian Bison Association says. Only Alberta had more bison that year, with 54,907 animals raised on 445 farms.
A&W’s move to bring a bison burger to Saskatchewan comes after the company launched a limited offering in Manitoba last year.
Saskatchewan bison producers are pleased to see their products receive some recognition.
“If you raise bison, then it’s definitely good to see the animal being showcased anywhere,” said Avery Shepherd, a producer from Livelong, Sask. and vice-president of the Saskatchewan Bison Association. “I heard good things from Manitoba, so let’s hope (A&W) can do a good job with the bison here.”
The bison offering will be topped with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and mustard.
And the bison will give the burger a different taste than beef, Shepherd said.
“Bison is probably a sweeter meat than beef,” he said. “Bison does have fat (but) it doesn’t have marbling.”
A&W photo