132. The Power of Flour: The Many Benefits of Local Grain Economies with Heather Coiner of the Common Grain Alliance

Have you ever wondered where the ingredients for your bread come from...like really wondered? And why should you care? Today's guest is here to tell us all about how a local grain supply supports local economies, a more resilient supply chain, better quality staple foods for the consumer and better soil health for the region. Heather Coiner is a plant physiological ecologist and co-founder of the Common Grain Alliance, an organization striving for a more connected grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic.

The Common Grain Alliance envisions an integrated grain economy of local and regional businesses that produce nutritious, flavorful and consistent regional grain products for the communities they serve, and helps drive regional interest in— and demand for — regional grain through events, workshops and marketing

Heather, holds a PhD in plant physiological ecology from the University of Toronto and co-owns Little Hat Creek Farm, an ecological vegetable farm and wood fired bakery in central Virginia where she lives with her husband and two children. 

Topics discussed:

• Heather's background as an academic and a bread baker
• How the Common Grain Alliance came to be
• Michael Grantz of Great Day Gardens
• How does the CGA operate as a membership organization?
• Carolina Ground (a similar grain operation out of Asheville)
• Jennifer Laps
• Why should we care about local grain?
• Nutrition
• Supply
• Local economies
• Soil improvement
• Challenges in creating a local grain economy
• Some solutions to the issue of accessibility
• sliding scale prices
• equipment pools for farmers
• businesses that provide traveling services for planting and processing
• Creating an awareness of the importance of local grains
• Little Hat Creek Farm
• The idea of horizontal vs vertical integration
• Significant accomplishments of CGA 
• Foggy Mountain Pasta 
• Next Step Produce
• Migrash Farms
• Purple Mountain
• Moutoux Orchards CSA
• The Grain Stand pilot program
• What are the alternatives if you can't access local grain? 
• King Arthur Organic Flour is a good alternative to locally grown grain
• Restaurants in the Area that support the local grain economy
• Albemarle Baking Co 
• Seylou Bakery
• Slice Versa
• MarieBette Cafe and Bakery

Connect with Heather Coiner:

• Website: Common Grain Alliance
• Instagram @commongrainalliance

This Episode is Sponsored by Frank and Oak: Frank & Oak

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