When it comes to growing rare, organic heritage grains, states like Oregon, Washington, Vermont, New York, even Eastern Pennsylvania, have the jump on western Pennsylvania. They’ve been at it about a decade longer.
They have behind them the earliest struggles of distribution. They’ve had time to develop a whole cadre of skilled specialists — millers, bakers, and maltsters — who fuel a level of demand that makes things profitable for the farmer.
When the Post-Gazette introduced readers to our own region’s grain pioneers three years ago we found a movement in its infancy, with infrastructure so primitive it almost wasn’t there at all. Lots has happened since — with more farmers planting more fields of these special organic grains and selling all they can produce. There are still frustrations — but elation too as new partnerships are struck that change the balance of the equation.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Pittsburgh-Post Gazette
