C Magazine - Summer 2018

C Tomorrow

Annette Degnan 2018-07-31 02:59:34

Good Food Matters

Meeting the needs of discerning food company ingredient buyers and, ultimately, hyper-engaged consumers requires a dedicated team of farmers, microbiologists, chemists, food technicians, chefs and grain buyers turned matchmakers. Making connections across the supply chain is driving growth at Ardent Mills, a leading flour-milling company and CHS joint venture partner.

Ardent Mills contracts with more than 500 growers in 14 states to produce 300,000-plus acres of specialty wheat, barley and heritage grains, including quinoa (keen-wah). The popularity of nutrient-dense quinoa has exploded since 2012, charting annual sales gains as high as 72 percent.

“Ardent Mills focuses on the food of today and tomorrow, creating new markets for our farmer network,” says Shrene White, Ardent Mills general manager of The Annex by Ardent Mills, a business unit focused on ingredient-based marketing, including branded quinoa sold as Ardent Mills Great Plains Quinoa™.

The product adds value on three fronts: Growers diversify their operations with a profitable third crop following peas, soybeans or potatoes; Ardent Mills earns high scores in customer satisfaction by delivering an identity-preserved product; and ingredient buyers get traceability and the marketing advantage of a direct link to growers.

“Quinoa is both a stand-alone whole grain and an ingredient,” says White. “It’s found on 20 percent of fast-casual restaurant menus.” Modern consumers can’t seem to get enough ancient grains.

Published by CHS Inc. View All Articles.

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