Westbridge Ranch is a large-scale onion production, processing and trading cooperative focused on supplying the Canadian and the US markets with premium onions.
Our onions are farmed, processed, warehoused and shipped to high Canadian standards.
WESTBRIDGE RANCH is a Canadian-owned and operated agricultural production and processing cooperative dedicated to producing high quality natural and organic onions primarily for the North American markets.
Our primary production facility is located in the fertile soils of the Kara region in Northern Togo.
The Westbridge Ranch operation covers over 16,000 acres of land that we directly farm, in addition to third-party out-grower partnerships we have with several local farming cooperatives through our “Farming-Together” programs (Togo, Senegal, Niger). Some 1970 acres of the above total is devoted to our onion program.
Our goal in every season is to grow the highest quality non-gmo and organic onions, handpicked by experienced artisan-farmers and delivered clean and fresh to our customers through our dedicated in-house sorting, washing & packing facilities.
ABOUT US:
Westbridge Ranch Cooperative houses the 1970-acre onion production project initiated, owned and operated by Westbridge Trading Corp (Canada).
WESTBRIDGE is nonbank financial institution and an agriculture infrastructure investor focused on identifying, building and operating specialty agriculture production, processing and trading businesses in Africa catering to the North American agri-food market.
Our highly differentiated approach to food chain investing combines operational know-how with commodities trading acumen and credit risk expertise to help drive sustainable food security, export earnings growth and repeatable risk-adjusted returns.
Our business model connects Canadian and American market access to Africa’s abundant supply of non-gmo land and low production costs, to help in the production, the trading and the delivery of high in-demand non-gmo and organic crops while ensuring sustainable job creation and responsible agriculture in and on the lands we operate in.
MANAGEMENT
James Clayton
Canadian
Trained Engineer 40 Yrs. Banking
JD Diabira
Canadian
Trained Economist & Banker 30 Yrs. Banking & Trading
y Wilgar
Canadian
Serial Entrepreneur 30 Yrs. Experience
Drew Elliott
Canadian
Serial Entrepreneur 30 Yrs. Experience
Robert Gogo
Togo National
Agronomist 20 Yrs. Commodities Trading
MANAGEMENT:
James Clayton
Canadian
Trained Engineer 40 Yrs. Banking
JD Diabira
Canadian
Trained Economist & Banker
30 Yrs. Banking & Trading
Jay Wilgar
Canadian
Serial Entrepreneur
30 Yrs. Experience
Drew Elliott
Canadian
Serial Entrepreneur
20 Yrs. Experience
Robert Gogo
Togo National
Agronomist
20 Yrs. Commodities Trading
OUR LAND
Situated 300m above sea level in the fertile highlands of the Kara Region of Togo. Westbridge Ranch’s farm lands are located in one of the best agricultural zones worldwide. Our land’s’ unique terroir is defined by its rich, well-draining, sandy-loam soils, cool breezy evenings and full sun exposure during the day. These unique characteristics impart a cleaner, well-balanced tasting onion. A taste uniquely found only in the ‘La Kara’ onion.
OUR PRODUCTS
ONIONS: AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT
Onions are one of the most common staples in kitchens around the world.
The world trades $7.4 billion worth of onion per year, of which Canada and the US alone import $1.36- billion worth every year.
Their flavour can be pungent, mellow and even sweet.
While at Westbridge Ranch, we grow and trade a variety of cultivars, and our custom programs can accommodate tailored requests focused on specific varieties, it’s the magnificent sweet red Galmi / “Violet de Galmi” cultivar that define us.
RED ONIONS:
APPEARANCE/FLAVOUR
Beautiful red colour with a tinge of purple. Light and sweet in flavour. Less pungent than white and yellow onions.
COOKING TIPS
Great for uncooked dishes! Use in salads and sandwiches or lightly roast.
YELLOW ONIONS:
APPEARANCE/FLAVOUR
Yellow skin with white flesh. Commonly known as the “all-purpose” onion. Strongest taste and best to enhance flavours of cooking.
COOKING TIPS
Very versatile. Best for meat dishes, stews, soups and are delicious when caramelized.
‘LA KARA’ YELLOW ONIONS
APPEARANCE/FLAVOUR
Yellow skin with white flesh,encased in a light yellow to copper, dry, papery skin.layered skin surrounds a white to cream-colored tranThe ringed flesh is firm, crisp, and juicy. Yellow onionwith a pungent flavor when raw, and when cooked, tnutty, mild flavor with sweet undertones.
OUR EXPERTISE
PRODUCTION
Westbridge Ranch believes growing quality produce all along the “farm-to-table” spectrum. It all starts with the highest quality seeds, fully optimized for the growing conditions of the Region of Kara. We then add a healthy dose of local terrain knowledge and wisdom, and modern precision agriculture methods and techniques. Our fields are nurtured and tended to by our artisan farmers and are under constant monitoring both in-person and remotely.
STORAGE
Post-harvest handling care is crucial in helping control and mitigate the risk of diseases. Westbridge Ranch optimizes storage through combination of time-tested processes and tools, including the use of specialized brick warehouses with oversized doors, horizontal air ventilation system complete with louvered wall vents and exhaust fans for precision temperature & humidity control.
GRADING & PACKING
Once cured, the onions are graded according to size and quality. Our modern grading & packing line eliminates immature, decayed, sunburned, mechanically injured bulbs, double bulbs, and bulbs with secondary growth. The bulbs are then sorted, cleaned, sized and graded, just prior to bagging.
They are packaged in 55-lb mesh bags or in consumer packs of 3, 5, and 10-lb mesh sacks.
We also provide veggie box/ cartons in 5 & 11 lb formats
DISTRIBUTION
We supply our regional West Africa customer base through KAP WEST-Food Logistics, our 30-truck logistics subsidiary, exclusively dedicated to onions. Distribution into overseas markets is handled through a combination of sea shipping and air cargo deliveries, thanks to strategic partnerships with port terminal operator MSC Shipping and with Ethiopian Airlines Cargo.
WHY US?
Vertically Integrated
Being an onion grower, packer and processor, we have transparency and control from seed to plate.
Economies of Scale:
With over 6500 ha of land, we utilize large- scale farming equipment, packing lines and storage facilities- allowing us to capitalize on efficiencies, which is passed along to our customers in the form of value for money.
Our Lands:
Our farms are located in the Region of Kara (Approx Elevation: 296m), known for its fertile soil, cool evenings, and access to irrigation- three key components to producing world-class produce.
Our Location:
Located in Togo in the heart of West Africa, home to the Port of Lome, one of Africa’s most active and important ports- it allows for easy access to key markets along with West African coast, North America and Europe. Togo is also the trading gateway to the landlock countries in the inner-Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Niger)
Our Policies:
Westbridge Ranch prides itself on implementing and adhering to world-class safety, quality and gender policies.
Our Speciality:
Westbridge Ranch focuses strictly on onions. Our bespoke, modern facilities means we can effectively manage post-harvest conditioning, storage, grading and packing.
Why Us
Vertically Integrated
Being a direct onion grower, an aggregator, a packer and processor, we aim to have full transparency and traceability from seed to plate.
Economies of Scale:
with over 16,000 acres of clean lands, we utilize large- scale farming equipment, packing lines and storage facilities- allowing us to capitalize on efficiencies, which is passed along to our customers in the form of higher value for money.
Our Lands:
Our Sweet Red Galmi onions come from lands throughout West Africa known for their long tradition of onion growing. The countries of Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo and Senegal are the historical ancestral home to the Galmi cultivar. In Northern Togo (where our land holdings are concentrated), meandering Oti River and its many tributaries combine with the low altitude Dapaong cliffs and the Malfakassa hills to form a unique terroir well-suited for sweet savoury red onion cultivation. It’s within this region that we produce our onions, specifically around the counties of Bassar, Mango and Dapaong, areas known for their high quality sweet onion, their pungent yellow and reds whose texture and tastes are so unique as to draw calls for an AOC Label designation. (the Appelation d’Origine Controllee) AOC, is a French certification granted to agricultural products to denote a unique and irreplicable set of quality, soil texture and composition and local techniques and processes.
Our Location:
Located in Togo in the heart of West Africa, home to the Port of Lomé, the second-most active port of sub-Saharan Africa (After Durban, South Africa) and the second major logistical hub to Ethiopian Airlines, the Continent largest airline, with more than 30 direct weekly flights to Europe, North America and the Middle East. Togo and its Port of Lomé act as a strategic access gateway to the landlocked countries of the Sahel [Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali].
Our Policies:
Westbridge Ranch prides itself on adhering to and implementing world-class safety, quality and gender policies. Please see below more information on our policies.
Our Specialty focus: Onions
Westbridge Ranch focuses strictly on onions. Our bespoke, modern facilities means we can effectively manage post-harvest conditioning, storage, grading, packing and delivery.
OUR DREAM
To build Africa’s largest farmer-focused, vertically integrated, multi-faceted agriculture company involved in production, processing and trading of conventional and organic onion varieties.
OUR VISION
- We believe there is an opportunity to bring Canada’s vast experience and deep agricultural expertise to a region whose massive gaps in production, processing and trading belly the tremendous potential of its rich soil and vast arable lands.
- Large-scale mechanized agriculture, value-chain management across vast expanses, and precision agriculture, are defining aspects of Canadian agriculture today. They also happen to be the ingredients that could turn Africa’s agriculture into the production juggernaut it could and should be.
- Westbridge Ranch would like to be the bridge that connects Africa’s agricultural potential to Canada’s experience and market. Leading ultimately to listing the company public on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).
OUR COMMITMENTS:
Food Safety
Westbridge Ranch's Canadian operations are licensed under CFIA, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.. As a food producer, processor and distributor, Westbridge Ranch is committed to implementing industry best practices at every stage of production; ensuring safety, wholesomeness, and quality products throughout the Canadian food supply chain.
Sustainability
Sustainable community-centric agricultural practices are central to economic growth as we see it at Westbridge Ranch. We have thus placed our commitment to sound environmental practices at the heart of land stewardship and onion growing, in the design of our storage and transportation processes, but also in the way we treat our people, the way we manage our water resources, and how we consume energy on our various production sites.
Community
We believe strongly in giving back and being good community citizens. Social responsibility is not a buzzword for us; it’s how we do business. We strive to be a model business and contribute positively toward improving the communities we inhabit.
OUR COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS & PROGRAMS
As a community-centric grower and trader, Westbridge Ranch prides itself on its long-term commitment to sustainable economic growth throughout the regions we produce in. Our focus is on delivering growth that is inclusive, regenerative and economically impactful at both the village and country level.
‘We Stand Together’ Commitment: We have made specific commitments, including the one about doubling the daily wage for our employees and farming partners by December 2026. This will go a long way to reduce poverty, fuel economic growth and address longstanding gender inequities.
‘Farm-Together’ Program: This program is designed to work with farming cooperatives throughout the region. In this program, Westbridge Ranch provides inputs, planting and harvesting equipment to the farming co-ops, the co-ops manage the growing season- irrigating, weeding, pest control and upon harvest the co-ops get paid for their services. This places the costs of the inputs, growing/environmental risks and sales and marketing strategy directly on Westbridge, while the farming cooperatives receive a guaranteed income, low-cost loans and benefit from community services we put in place.
Medical and Literacy Clinics: Westbridge Ranch knows our success lies with our incredible team of farm-hands, crop specialists and equipment operators. That is why Westbridge offers our employees and their families access to our free literacy and medical clinics. Health, well-paid, employees, with opportunities for career advancement and personal growth.
CAREERS
Welcome to Careers at Westbridge Ranch
Powering People, Powering Potential, Powering Possibilities. Westbridge Ranch is constantly looking for outstanding energetic individuals to join our team, whether at our offices or on our farms! Whether you’re a student, recent graduate or a seasoned professional, who is passionate about food security, agriculture or food quality & safety we have exciting career opportunities across our organization in Lomé, Kara and Bassar (Togo). For Positions in Togo, applicant need to hold Togo citizenship or be in possession of valid work permit, unless exempt under relevant Togolese laws.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Westbridge Ranch adheres to Canada’s Employment Equity Act for all job postings both in Canada and internationally. Westbridge Ranch provides equal employment opportunities to all people and strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination against applicants on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability or any other characteristic as protected by Canadian law.
Job Openings
We are excited to announce that we are developing a new candidate online application system, which will significantly improve the application experience. As we transition to our new system, please contact our office directly to learn of available employment opportunities.
When applying, please refrain from including such personal information as:
- Picture ID
- Date or place of Birth
- Marital status
- Number of kids
Kara Region Land
CONTACT US
Togo Office:
6th Floor, CRBC Building Atchante Area, Carrefour GTA Lomé, Togo
Canada Office:
600 – 5920 MacLeod Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta T2H 0K2 (Canada)
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RANCH HAPPENINGS
Tejon Ranch Co. and Majestic Realty Co. to partner on development of up to 495 multi-family residential units next to the Outlets at Tejon.
As part of the agreement, Climate Resolve has agreed to dismiss with prejudice its claim that the County of Los Angeles violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when it approved Centennial in May of 2019. With the dismissal of the lawsuit, Tejon Ranch Co. retains the legislative approval needed to continue the process that will lead to the development of a well-planned and critically needed community that will bring thousands of homes and jobs to Los Angeles County.
(Tejon Ranch, CA) Tejon Ranch Co. (NYSE: TRC) today announced the addition of Susan K. Hori to the Board of Directors of Tejon Ranch Co. She will join the Board effective December 1, 2021.
