A Whole Grain Revolution In The Making On The West Coast

The West Coast is home to a growing phenomenon in the bread industry: local grain economies whose goal is to scale up production of whole grain products in a way that is profitable for farmers and competitively priced for consumers – “a true alternative to an industrial economy”. The whole grains movement is based on locally grown grain varieties that result in flour very different from what’s available commercially today. The grains are milled without ever separating the germ, the embryo of a grain kernel, and the bran, the protective outer layer. Baked goods – from cookies to bread – not only taste better than the so-called whole grain products available in supermarkets today, they may also be healthier. Advocates and scientists say people who are gluten sensitive – but not celiac sufferers – report they can enjoy breads made from whole grains without the adverse effects.