U of I, CSU Hosting Artisan Grains Roundtable

On Wednesday, November 6th, the University of Idaho and Colorado State University will hold an event geared to help regional artisan grain growers connect with buyers in their local market.  The U of I’s Colette DePhelps, said new markets aren’t just overseas and faraway, they can be just around the corner.  She added during this week's event, they will discus how consumers have pushed to have more products locally grown and locally sourced.

"For a baker or brewer, there can be a market advantage to have some type of unique, locally milled, locally malted, product in whatever they're selling to the consumer," DePhelps noted.  "So, this is really about win win.  It's about increasing economic viability of businesses as well as strengthening our local and regional food system." 

Wednesday’s roundtable will focus on artisan grains produced in the Northwest, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.  DePhelps adds Wednesday’s event is about real, practical connections.

“This is not about theory," she stressed.  "This is about...there's people doing this. We're going to be highlighting four stories of different farms within our region, and one person outside of our region, from Wisconsin, that are actually doing this work, and we're going to learn from them about how they get started. What's working for them, even how they changed overtime, because we all know businesses have to pivot.” 

DePhelps added agribusinesses, like any other business, will hit roadblocks and challenges, and they will discuss those obstacles Wednesday and offer up a few ideas how to overcome those difficulties.  Wednesday’s Zoom event runs from 8a-11:30a Pacific Time  Click Here to learn more or to register.

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