SunOpta Receives Minnesota Department of Agriculture Award TORONTO, November 27 /CNW/ - SunOpta Inc. (SunOpta or the Company) (Nasdaq:STKL)(TSX:SOY) today announced that Murray Burke, Vice President and General Manager of the SunOpta BioProcess Group, will be attending the Bear Stearns Commodities and Capital Goods Conference in New York, New York on November 29, 2006, where he will participate in the Biofuels panel discussions. (http://www.bearstearns.com/conferences/ccgc2006/) The SunOpta BioProcess Group has been designing, building and optimizing biomass conversion plants for over thirty years and is currently supplying equipment and technology to three cellulosic ethanol projects in the U.S., Spain and China. SunOpta also announced that its Grains and Foods Group received the Excellence Award for International Marketing at The Fourth Annual Minnesota Department of Agriculture Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate innovation and leadership in food safety, environmental stewardship, agricultural promotion, and international marketing. SunOpta's Grains and Foods Group is located (SunOpta, Earthwise, and SunOpta Sunflower) throughout Minnesota and the United States. The company supports Minnesota farmers through the purchase and use of locally grown commodities. SunOpta has a long history of building international relationships and has participated in many trade missions and events with Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff and other state trade officials. Commissioner Gene Hugoson of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture praised this year's winners as examples of dedication and leadership in the farm community; "Minnesota farmers and consumers benefit immensely from the work of these people," Commissioner Hugoson said. "It's our pleasure to honor them for their ongoing contributions." More information on the Excellence Awards can be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's website http://www.mda.state.mn.us. About SunOpta Inc. SunOpta Inc. is an operator of high-growth ethical businesses, focusing on integrated business models in the natural and organic food markets. The Company has three business units: the SunOpta Food Group, which specializes in sourcing, processing and distribution of natural and organic food products integrated from seed through packaged products; the Opta Minerals Group, a producer, distributor, and recycler of environmentally friendly industrial materials; and the SunOpta BioProcess Group which engineers and markets proprietary steam explosion technology systems for the pulp, bio-fuel and food processing industries. Each of these business units has proprietary products and services that give it a solid competitive advantage in its sector. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to references to business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, capital expenditure plans, business and operational growth plans and references to the future growth of the business. These forward looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its interpretation of current conditions, historical trends and expected future developments as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstance. However, whether actual results and developments will agree with expectations and predications of the Company is subject to many risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to; general economic, business or market risk conditions; competitive actions by other companies; changes in laws or regulations or policies of local governments, provinces and states as well as the governments of United States and Canada, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Consequently all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized.