Artisan grains roundtable on Nov. 6

The Climate Resilient Ag team of the six-state USDA-funded Northwest & Rocky Mountain Food Business Center project is hosting a virtual solutions roundtable on Nov. 6.

The roundtable focus is on creating markets for climate-resilient artisan grains produced in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.  

The target audience includes growers, processors, distributors, buyers, financial institutions, individual investors, community economic development professionals, nonprofits, community groups, local governments and others interested in grain market development.

Development of the roundtable is being led by University of Idaho faculty, Colette DePhelps and Lorie Higgins, as well as Martha Sullins with Colorado State University.

Agenda in brief

Keynote: Dan Hobbs, fifth generation Coloradan and first-generation farmer, Dan was a rural cooperative development specialist with the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and grows certified organic heritage grains, legumes, and other crops in the Four Corners region. He and partner, Nanna Meyer, operate Pueblo Seed and Food Company, a vertically integrated enterprise that includes seed cleaning, milling and baking in Cortez, Colorado. 

Solution stories: Hear directly from market-expanding collaborations for artisan grains— who is involved, how they work, why they came together, and tips for adapting this approach to your locale.

Breakout rooms: Small-group interactions on specific topics as well as an opportunity to meet up with other participants from your part of the six-state region.

Resources: Participants will have access to a resource guide that can help them jump into building a business and connect with potential partners up and down the value chain in their region.

Email Tayler Reinman (treinman@uidaho.edu) for more information.