Read about Companion Bread’s Local Grains Project, which we at Fair Shares are excited to be a part of:
AS PART OF OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT to supporting and enriching our community, we’re thrilled to introduce our Local Grains Project – a selection of breads made almost exclusively with locally grown and milled grains along with locally produced foodstuffs (think honey, sorghum, nuts and seeds). This project gives us the opportunity to give a voice to the Missouri/Southern Illinois regional food production ecosystem by delivering thoughtful small batch breads to our local consumer.
This rotating selection of loaves will introduce some of the outstanding agricultural products our region has to offer. Coaxing the most flavor and texture from these freshly milled local grains, we’re creating breads with moist crumbs and terrific keeping qualities at a standard you’ve come to expect from Companion.
Most importantly, we pledge to offer transparency in the process – sharing with you the local grain content and origin of each loaf and introducing you to the farmers, millers and producers that make these great breads possible.
Bread has always been a catalyst for conversation. We understand that to keep that dialog moving forward we must continually push ourselves to do more for our community and our customer. We strongly believe that our Local Grains Project will do just that.
Meet the newest edition: Dutch Crunch
Dutch Crunch is a relatively new bread, thought to have originated in the Netherlands where it is known as Tiger Bread. The name comes from the rice flour paste applied to the top of the bread. During the baking process it hardens and cracks, resembling a tiger’s fur pattern. The rice flour paste gives the bread a distinctive crunch and taste, while not overpowering. Food and Wine Magazine proclaimed it the greatest sandwich bread you’ve never heard of. Now ya know.
To create this unique loaf, we’ve partnered with some amazing folks:
The Mill at Janie’s Farm (Ashkum, IL) provides the “Calumet” wheat flour.
Bekemeier’s (Neosho, MO) provides the Sorghum.
McKaskle Family Farm (Braggadocio, MO) provides the rice flour.
A collaboration between Companion Bread, Fair Shares CCSA, Slow Food St. Louis and Missouri Grown.