Value-added grains for local and regional food systems

The objectives of this project are to:

  • Evaluate germplasm of small grain crops with potentially high market value (including heritage wheat, emmer, spelt and einkorn) for adaptability to organic systems and for desirable grain and baking characteristics, including flavor and nutritional quality.
  • Develop management recommendations for heritage wheat varieties and emmer and einkorn landraces.
  • Optimize grain quality through identification and documentation of best management techniques from planting through harvest, cleaning, and storage, that are cost-effective and appropriate for small-scale and larger scale production.
  • Document a variety of approaches to grain dehulling and milling to provide smaller and larger scale growers with viable processing options.
  • Investigate multiple strategies for accessing local and regional markets.