Artisan Grain Collaborative
Grain Chain Advocates & Connectors
About
We are a network of farmers, millers, maltsters, bakers, chefs, food manufacturers, brewers, distillers, researchers, and advocates working together to promote a regenerative grainshed in the Midwest.
News & Media

Meet the Midwestern Bakers and Farmers Working to Rebuild a Local Grainshed

via Modern Farmer · By Paul Bonneville Posted October 30, 2022 2:58 pm
The Artisan Grain Collaborative is another organization that has had a lot of success in their efforts to shore up the local grain economy out in the midwest. We love to see their continued to success.

Artisan Grain Collaborative, a network of farmers, millers, maltsters, brewers, bakers and distillers, is fostering a resilient and equitable regional breadbasket.

We've got our own evolving grain collaborative out here in Colorado in the form of the Colorado Grain Chain that we actively engage with in order to foster the growing of more local and regional grain to use in our products.
Read at source →

Artisan Grain Collaborative's "The Crumb" Newsletter - May 15, 2022

via Mailchimp archived newsletter · By Paul Bonneville Posted May 15, 2022 11:13 pm
It’s the middle of May and it's impossible to start off without mention of this wacky weather. As I'm writing, it’s hot and humid and we’re wishing the wild blackcaps were ripe. Instead, the canes are barely leafing out. For small grains farmers like us, this has been an incredibly difficult wet and cold spring. In these challenging moments I am always reminded of the importance of a strong community. This is why I believe AGC is a critical organization for supporting the success of all of us along our regional grain value chain—it fosters a community, built on mutual understanding, knowledge sharing, and authentic relationships.

While this posting it our usual repost of the Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC) newsletter, the opening piece in this month's issue highlights the importance of organizations bringing together all the players in regional grain chains.

While the AGC is anchored in the Midwest, we have our very own grain chain organization here in Colorado, aptly named the "Colorado Grain Chain". It has been around for a few years and is still relatively small, but there is a small group of passionate folks driving it forward.

I can say with confidence that without these Grain Chain organizations, trying simply to source local and regional grains for a startup bakery is no easy task. Having also talked to farmers growing small grains at the other end of the chain, we know it is just as equally as challenging for them find and manage buyers for their grains.

These grain chain organizations are critical indeed.
Read at source →

Case Study: Shagbark Seed

via newventureadvisors.net · By Paul Bonneville Posted March 28, 2022 12:34 am
They envision a staple food system in which these vital products are grown, processed, value-added, distributed, and marketed at a great enough volume to catalyze the entire food system, creating meaningful work and jobs, and making the very best food accessible to everyone.

If I did not have a day job, I could easily be swept away in researching and writing about interesting Grain Chain stories from across the nation. Often I come across a story from one site or organization that points to an article or a study by another organization that ends up being a very educational and inspirational rabbit hole. This happens time and again. 

While I could try and write about everything I learn, I would never sleep, so my solution is to capture some little snippet of inspiration that is often tangential to the original story I am linking to. This post is one of those stories that generated one of those inspirational snippets.

This case study by a food business consultant, New Venture Advisors, on Shagbark Seed & Mill was referenced in the monthly newsletter of the Artisan Grain Collaborative. Definitely read up on all three organizations if you you are not familiar with them, but pay close attention to Shagbark Seed & Mill. 

Shagbark has built a regionally based food business that is an offshoot of an effort to bolster their local food system in Ohio specifically around grains and beans stemming back to 2010. 

If I was to try an summarize something I'd love to be a part of or at least see develop in Colorado, it is a business like Shagbark. 

While Ashley and I have aspirations to build a local bakery focused on using locally and regionally sourced grains, we also want to make other grain-based products as well. While not a necessarily original idea, there are plenty of products to be made and lots of opportunity for growth even though there are a number of bakeries and companies already doing this. 

This is why I find Shagbark inspirational. Local and regional grain chain food systems can, and are, being done throughout the US.
Read at source →

Artisan Grain Collaborative's "The Crumb" Newsletter - March 6, 2022

via Mailchimp archived newsletter · By Paul Bonneville Posted March 8, 2022 10:39 pm
In this week’s newsletter, we bring you a profile of Seven Sundays, an AGC member who uses their popular breakfast cereal and muesli to push the needle for regional grains. We’re also re-sharing insights on Ukraine’s influence on the world’s bread wheat and links to AGC members who have joined the work of fundraising for humanitarian efforts.

If you are not on the Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC)'s newsletter...go sign up now. 😄 Their newsletters typically feature their members, and their members have interesting stories to share and be inspired by. 

We also have a lot of interesting Grain Chain stories here in Colorado, so I always come away looking at what AGC has done as an organization and know that we have the potential to share those stories and make more connections in our region as well...what to do, what to do...🤔
Read at source →

Common Grain Alliance Awarded USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant

via commongrainalliance.org Posted November 29, 2021 4:04 pm
Common Grain Alliance (CGA) has been awarded a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant. CGA will leverage this multi-year, $749,217 grant to further its mission of building a robust, sustainable, and equitable grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic. CGA’s objectives for this grant include: Expanding consumer awareness of regional grains as part of the greater regional food system in the Mid-Atlantic

This is awesome news. The Common Grain Alliance is one of a handful of organizations across the country working to build out regional grain chains. The Common Grain Alliance serves the Mid-Atlantic region and already has a number of grain-advocacy projects underway, so this grant will surely let them expand and act upon even more of  their mission. 

Back in 2017, the Artisan Grain Collaborative has also received a USDA grant to build out their efforts as well any they have made a lot of progress over the years as well. This type of funding is essential, but I do always keep an eye on potentially self-sustaining business opportunities that spin off of these grant-funded organizations in the long run. 
Read at source →
Connections
https://www.graincollaborative.com
@artisangraincollab
graincollab
@graincollab
People
Amy Halloran, Collaborator
Locations
Chicago, IL,
United States
Directions
News & Media

Meet the Midwestern Bakers and Farmers Working to Rebuild a Local Grainshed

via Modern Farmer · By Paul Bonneville Posted October 30, 2022 2:58 pm
The Artisan Grain Collaborative is another organization that has had a lot of success in their efforts to shore up the local grain economy out in the midwest. We love to see their continued to success.

Artisan Grain Collaborative, a network of farmers, millers, maltsters, brewers, bakers and distillers, is fostering a resilient and equitable regional breadbasket.

We've got our own evolving grain collaborative out here in Colorado in the form of the Colorado Grain Chain that we actively engage with in order to foster the growing of more local and regional grain to use in our products.
Read at source →

Artisan Grain Collaborative's "The Crumb" Newsletter - May 15, 2022

via Mailchimp archived newsletter · By Paul Bonneville Posted May 15, 2022 11:13 pm
It’s the middle of May and it's impossible to start off without mention of this wacky weather. As I'm writing, it’s hot and humid and we’re wishing the wild blackcaps were ripe. Instead, the canes are barely leafing out. For small grains farmers like us, this has been an incredibly difficult wet and cold spring. In these challenging moments I am always reminded of the importance of a strong community. This is why I believe AGC is a critical organization for supporting the success of all of us along our regional grain value chain—it fosters a community, built on mutual understanding, knowledge sharing, and authentic relationships.

While this posting it our usual repost of the Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC) newsletter, the opening piece in this month's issue highlights the importance of organizations bringing together all the players in regional grain chains.

While the AGC is anchored in the Midwest, we have our very own grain chain organization here in Colorado, aptly named the "Colorado Grain Chain". It has been around for a few years and is still relatively small, but there is a small group of passionate folks driving it forward.

I can say with confidence that without these Grain Chain organizations, trying simply to source local and regional grains for a startup bakery is no easy task. Having also talked to farmers growing small grains at the other end of the chain, we know it is just as equally as challenging for them find and manage buyers for their grains.

These grain chain organizations are critical indeed.
Read at source →

Case Study: Shagbark Seed

via newventureadvisors.net · By Paul Bonneville Posted March 28, 2022 12:34 am
They envision a staple food system in which these vital products are grown, processed, value-added, distributed, and marketed at a great enough volume to catalyze the entire food system, creating meaningful work and jobs, and making the very best food accessible to everyone.

If I did not have a day job, I could easily be swept away in researching and writing about interesting Grain Chain stories from across the nation. Often I come across a story from one site or organization that points to an article or a study by another organization that ends up being a very educational and inspirational rabbit hole. This happens time and again. 

While I could try and write about everything I learn, I would never sleep, so my solution is to capture some little snippet of inspiration that is often tangential to the original story I am linking to. This post is one of those stories that generated one of those inspirational snippets.

This case study by a food business consultant, New Venture Advisors, on Shagbark Seed & Mill was referenced in the monthly newsletter of the Artisan Grain Collaborative. Definitely read up on all three organizations if you you are not familiar with them, but pay close attention to Shagbark Seed & Mill. 

Shagbark has built a regionally based food business that is an offshoot of an effort to bolster their local food system in Ohio specifically around grains and beans stemming back to 2010. 

If I was to try an summarize something I'd love to be a part of or at least see develop in Colorado, it is a business like Shagbark. 

While Ashley and I have aspirations to build a local bakery focused on using locally and regionally sourced grains, we also want to make other grain-based products as well. While not a necessarily original idea, there are plenty of products to be made and lots of opportunity for growth even though there are a number of bakeries and companies already doing this. 

This is why I find Shagbark inspirational. Local and regional grain chain food systems can, and are, being done throughout the US.
Read at source →

Artisan Grain Collaborative's "The Crumb" Newsletter - March 6, 2022

via Mailchimp archived newsletter · By Paul Bonneville Posted March 8, 2022 10:39 pm
In this week’s newsletter, we bring you a profile of Seven Sundays, an AGC member who uses their popular breakfast cereal and muesli to push the needle for regional grains. We’re also re-sharing insights on Ukraine’s influence on the world’s bread wheat and links to AGC members who have joined the work of fundraising for humanitarian efforts.

If you are not on the Artisan Grain Collaborative (AGC)'s newsletter...go sign up now. 😄 Their newsletters typically feature their members, and their members have interesting stories to share and be inspired by. 

We also have a lot of interesting Grain Chain stories here in Colorado, so I always come away looking at what AGC has done as an organization and know that we have the potential to share those stories and make more connections in our region as well...what to do, what to do...🤔
Read at source →

Common Grain Alliance Awarded USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant

via commongrainalliance.org Posted November 29, 2021 4:04 pm
Common Grain Alliance (CGA) has been awarded a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant. CGA will leverage this multi-year, $749,217 grant to further its mission of building a robust, sustainable, and equitable grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic. CGA’s objectives for this grant include: Expanding consumer awareness of regional grains as part of the greater regional food system in the Mid-Atlantic

This is awesome news. The Common Grain Alliance is one of a handful of organizations across the country working to build out regional grain chains. The Common Grain Alliance serves the Mid-Atlantic region and already has a number of grain-advocacy projects underway, so this grant will surely let them expand and act upon even more of  their mission. 

Back in 2017, the Artisan Grain Collaborative has also received a USDA grant to build out their efforts as well any they have made a lot of progress over the years as well. This type of funding is essential, but I do always keep an eye on potentially self-sustaining business opportunities that spin off of these grant-funded organizations in the long run. 
Read at source →
Curator's Notes
Updated record and published to site. I could not find an address for the organization, so Chicago is an arbitrary selection 🤗
General event, Posted by Paul Bonneville November 19, 2021
Vendor data managed on the Daily Grains Find Slow Food platform Daily Grains logo
Last updated December 27th, 2025
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