Shianna Smart, co-owner of Trails End Buffalo Stix in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, initially doubted the legitimacy of an email she received from NASA. However, upon further communication, she discovered that Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk had chosen their bison jerky for the upcoming NASA-SpaceX mission to the International Space Station on October 1, pending final approval.
Previously, in 2013, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield had enjoyed the Saskatchewan bison jerky sticks in space under the previous ownership of the business. Smart expressed her excitement at the opportunity, mentioning that while she knew their product had been to space before, being selected again was unexpected.
Smart hopes that the bison jerky’s journey to space will showcase its suitability for various purposes, such as kids’ lunches, sports snacks, and travel. The jerky underwent a rigorous selection process by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA before being approved for space travel.
According to Natalie Hirsch from the Canadian Space Agency, astronauts have the flexibility to customize a portion of their food supplies, with NASA providing most of the food and the CSA offering Canadian options. Requirements for space food include an 18-month shelf life, space-friendly packaging, and the absence of crumbs.
Local support plays a vital role in the success of small businesses like Trails End Buffalo Stix, as emphasized by Nolan Langer, assistant plant manager at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre. The facility has been producing jerky for nearly two decades, catering to small clients in western Canada.
Canadian products selected for space missions extend beyond bison jerky, including items like maple syrup from Ontario and Quebec, and salmon from the west coast.