The Western Pasta Growers want to meet with producers to talk about recent gains the group has made in getting a pasta plant established in Weyburn.

Western Pasta, made up of a group of local farmers, business people and city representatives who are pursuing a durum mill and pasta plant for Weyburn, announced last week that they are the first New Generation Co-operative to be incorporated in Saskatchewan.

Their plan is to see farmer-members of a new generation co-operative deliver durum to their own plant to be processed into pasta.

Orlin Hector says the group now has in excess of 1.85 million acres committed by 1,250 durum growers who have become members.

Western Pasta began campaigning for farmer-members in the spring at the farm door, through meetings and over the phone, selling memberships for $25 a piece which guarantee investment opportunity once the co-op is established.

Although the original membership goal was 2,000 members, chairman Orlin Hector says the number of acres are what count, and those acres have exceeded their expectations.

"Things are really moving right now," Hector said. "The industry looks a lot closer at the chunk of land we represent than the number of people in our organization."

Hector was reluctant to talk about any alliances the group might be exploring with other pasta co-operatives in Saskatchewan or elsewhere, due to confidentiality agreements.

An information meeting for members, or anyone else who is interested in the group, will be held in Weyburn, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at the Weyburn Inn