NEW CAMBRIA, KA — After its rebrand and acquisition by Heirloom Brands, Farmer Direct Foods, LLC (FDF) — a Kansas-based flour producer — is raising awareness of regenerative farming practices in the Sunflower State.
The company’s new brand identity, which includes new product packaging, reflects the company’s transition from manufacturing to a consumer-facing brand of premium artisan-quality products.
FDF was founded in 2003 as a co-op of wheat farmers who had previously formed the American White Wheat Producers Association in 1988. The company is comprised of multi-generational farmers and has historically been a producer of whole red wheat flour, patent flour, and organic and traditional 100% whole white wheat for customers including the King Arthur Baking Company, Tortilla King and Tardella Foods. Since its founding, FDF continues to innovate and expand its offerings to include rye what flour, heirloom whole wheat flour and buckwheat flour.
“For more than a century, Kansas has been considered the ‘Breadbasket of the World,’” said Heirloom Brands’ chairman and CEO, Tim Webster. “With the current rates of climate change we have an ethical responsibility to produce wheat and flour products as sustainably and nutritionally as we can, which not only benefits the earth, but also our growers’ livelihoods and the overall health of consumers.”
As a part of the company’s commitment to transparency and traceability, FDF has taken social responsibility practices to grant its customers piece of mind. For example, Identity Assured is a process from the company that tracks and monitors wheat from the certified seed varieties through all steps for the farming and stone-ground milling process.
In working with wheat research scientists from Kansas State University, FDF’s approach depends on the multi-generational grower network’s expertise to preserve land with sustainable agricultural practices for future generations. These practices include dry farming, which minimizes irrigation use and external water sources for wheat production, and low/no tilling practices, which prevents carbon release and keeps carbon in the soil.
“We rotate our crops with little to no tilling — overall reducing erosion — and plant-cover crops between harvests, which preserves organics in the soil,” said Doug Nelson, an FDF network grower and investor in Heirloom Brands. “These operations result in less runoff and chemicals in the water supply, creating a habitat for pollinators, birds, deer and other wildlife.”
FDF pays a premium to farmers, like Nelson, who commit to these environmentally conscious guidelines, additionally sharing a portion of profits to encourage the future of mindful farming. Through its farming efforts, the company estimates its farming methods save nearly 30 to 40 million gallons of water per year, which supports FDF’s Environmental, Social and Governance commitment.
The company’s soil health and water conservation efforts align with King Arthur Baking Company’s core value to be a force for good. Being a Certified B Corp, the baking resource provides high-quality baking products which meet high standards.
“King Arthur Baking Company has been a proud partner of Farmer Direct Foods for over 20 years,” said Suzanne McDowell, VP of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at King Arthur Baking Company. “Farmer Direct’s commitment to raise awareness of and expand regenerative farming practices in Kansas represents a critical step towards a more resilient and ecologically sound future. At King Arthur, we intend to lead in regenerative agriculture with the goal of having 100% of our flour milled from regeneratively grown wheat. The shared commitment of partners like Farmer Direct is essential in achieving our goals.”
